Weakened Wilderness

Global warming, climate change, endangered species, and other various sturggles between humans and nature are on the cusp of everyones mind. The environment must be salvaged, according to Michelle Nijhuis' article about the Torreya Tree in "Taking Wilderness in Hand: Rescuing Species". The Torreya tree, or Torreya taxifolia, is most at home in the Panhandle of Florida. What was once, described in the passage as a "common sight along the Apalachicola, plentiful enough to be cut for Christmas trees". The forest has been affected somehow because the trees began to stop growing last century. Habitats are changing, animals have changed their migration patterns. The same thing is happening to plant life as well, except plants cant be expected to move. The tree species has been settled in Florida for many years, and residents who enjoy its company are willing to go up and above the tallest branches to save them. Assisted migration, to re-plant the trees in new places that have the climate they are used to; has been discussed by many environmental researchers and it is possible that the Torreya and other trees could benefit tremendously. Conservationists disagree over this matter, so the migration remains controversial about how much good it would actually do. The process is also expensive and complicated. In the world today, all living things are precious and necessary vital resources, it is the planet that gives life and in turn all must look to the steady growth of the future.