Not subject to debate is North America’s worst infestation of bark beetles in recorded history, a problem centered in the once dense forests of Colorado. According to a recent report in the National Journal, the pest has destroyed 3.3 million acres of forest in Colorado alone since the 1990s. Although there is some disagreement among scientists about global warming’s role in the blight, it is clearly connected to lower snowfall levels and increased wildfires, two phenomena plaguing Colorado that are predicted impacts of climate change.
Seven states, seven warning signs of global warming – latimes.com
Almost everything the author said was incorrect. Colorado forests are severely overgrown from man-made fire suppression. Thick pine forests are not natural. This causes disease, including beetles. There is no long-term trend in Colorado snowfall or fires.
Lefties believe that any drug induced idea which pops into their head must be true.
The same sow has been driven through the German media in the 80s. First the forests were doomed by acid rain, then by pine beetles. Neither of course has happened. In fact the wooded area in the country has been steadily growing for centuries due to improved farming methods that require less area to yield bigger crops.
One way or another nature will take care of over dense conifer stands. The beetle kill destroys the climax vegetation and allows for grasses and forbes to grow. This in turn provides forage for deer and elk, which are more tasty than the squirrels they displaced.
Also, the pine beetle killed wood has a blue hue running through it and make beautiful products for home or business.
Isn’t nature grand.
Every event they have cited is either a routine weather event or outright fabrication. Alaska is having one of its coldest Decembers on record. Fairbanks has been averaging 17 degrees below normal. Far worse droughts have affected Texas and Iowa multiple times in the past.
In the 70’s, if you had pine beetle killed trees on your property you were allowed to: cut them down, cut them up, cover them with plastic and fumigate. That is all you were allowed to do because of the enviro edicts. How effective was that? You can drive through the Colorado forests now and see the blight everywhere you go. The only thing controlling the pine beetle blight now are the forest fires. The enviros demonized the timber companies back then the way they are demonizing coal and oil now. It makes sense to timber out the blight, but for some reason we can’t do that. WTF!!!!
I don’t see a lot of “blight” Just a bunch of snow and bitter cold.
Lefties believe in “causes.”
Once they get a “cause” fixed into their pea-sized brain, then they scratch around for or make up whatever factoids they need to justify their “cause.”
I like the “clearly connected” part, which actually means = “I’m guessing/assuming/wishing it to be so…”