Aerial survey shows pine ridge devastation

Disasters come in many shapes and sizes… and not all explode with the suddenness of a burning tank of butane. The catastrophe, which promises to destroy our Entire Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve entered like a thief in the night… and by the time authorities reacted it, was already too late. Critics point out that faster action on the part of government could have saved much of the forest from destruction, and certainly salvaged more of its valuable timber. But hindsight is always 20/20. The fact is that however its effect could have been minimized, the lethal invasion of the Southern Pine Bark Beetle has been virtually complete. As this aerial footage clearly demonstrates, mile after mile of once thriving evergreen pine has turned the dirty grey of death. A proper adjustment of your colour TV will show that the few healthy patches of green consist largely of broadleaf forest in the valleys and along creeks. These pictures, courtesy of the Janus Foundation, were taken this morning. Janus, based at the foot of the reserve, is working with government to provide forestry experts from Europe to help in the task of salvaging the area’s timber, including its genetic resources, and planning the reforestation of the reserve. Dead trees do not mark the end of the Pine Ridge disaster, however, as the coming dry season could bring massive forest fires, followed by devastating erosion in the rainy season.