>> “It means that without trees humans would be pretty bad off, and without humans trees would be better off.” <<
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That is an incredibly ignorant statement.
Every forest on Earth is fully dependent on man for its health. When we ignore them, they fall into deep decay, and become fire traps that burn so intensely that they will never be forests again. When we thin and harvest them they remain healthy, and productive.
The only reason that we have those giant trees is that the Costanoan indian tribes had the sense to burn the forests constantly to keep the chamise from choking out the trees.
That might be one of the dumbest things I have ever read. Are you aware that some evergreens require fire to reseed?
Forest fires and tree growth are both natural events; the ebb and flow of the Earth, which occurs with or without humans.
Do you seriously think that trees would not exist without humans? You think that the first human procured some magic tree seed and planted the first one ever?
Forest management is for the benefit of humans, not trees. To assume humans know best how to manage nature is absolutely retarded.
Human beings are to the Earth what fleas are to a dog. That's just the way it is, an no, it doesn't mean I want to kill myself to save the Earth.
Nature is an awesome thing and it damn sure is bigger and more powerful than you or me.