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Nerdy About Nature🌲🤓🤙 Ross Reid

@nerdyaboutnature

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Nature sure is neat, huh?
Fun facts & deep thoughts for a better tomorrow 🤙

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Every day 150-200 different species around the planet go extinct, and most of these aren’t even ones we fully know about yet, and will be gone before we even have any idea about who and what they are, or their role within the ecosystems in which they live. Under stable planetary conditions, the base rate of extinction is about 1-5 species every year or so, yet we are currently seeing the loss faster than the average person can even list the big charismatic ones they know about.

This is happening as a result of anthropogenic climate change and other human caused impacts which create an environment in which the change occurring is happening too fast for ecosystems and species to adapt, and thus they die out. This is important for us, because we too are a species on this planet and we are inherently interconnected to everything else. When we see wide-scale biodiversity loss, this triggers further ecological collapse as these interdependent systems lose their foundational parts, which means that the systems we rely on for our food, water, air, and the overall stability of the world we share, fail. When all that goes, so will we, because unfortunately, when it comes to extinction events, it’s the big high energy consuming species are often the first ones to go, whereas the things that survive are the small, energy-efficient critters who can hunker down and get by with less.

The change happening today is occurring about 1000x faster than the previous extinction events, all thanks to the impacts of this colonial capitalist system we live in that disconnects us from the natural world we are a part of and treats those species as an expendable resource, an externalized cost to ‘doing business’ within an extractive capitalist model.

So if we want our human children to survive, we need to create a word in which other non-human children are able to survive, and that begins by fundamentally changing our relationship to the natural world to address this biodiversity loss at its many root causes, to create a future in which we, amongst all the different species we rely on, are able to survive and thrive.

#extinction #species #biodiversity #loss #climate #climatechange by @nerdyaboutnature

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5 months ago

Nature isn’t real.

Nature is a human construct that we’ve created that separates ourself from the natural world, the inside from the outside - but us humans are just a bunch of wild animals! Everything that we use, create, eat, etc has its roots in the natural world, we are inherently a part of nature and these natural systems, not a part from them.

The misconception that we are somehow separate or outside of nature is really problematic, and has its roots going back thousands of years ago when pagan religions and even early christianity recognized that ‘god’ was in everything, from the rocks to the trees to different animals. But eventually ‘god’ evolved into this amorphous thing in the sky, separate from the world we live in and everything here was created for us to use freely.

Separating ourselves from the natural world gave us the ability to dismiss our role within these systems and justify cutting down old growth forests and destroying ecosystems as things became goods and commodities, and it allowed us to classify some people as humans and others as not or less-than, birthing racism, misogyny, and all sorts of bigotry which was then used to justify colonization and genocide and all sorts of violence that is the backbone and ongoing reality of the colonial capitalist structures in which we live, when at its most fundamental level is the biggest lie we’ve ever been told.

Nature doesn’t exist because we are a part of it, there is no outside, no other. We are all here together operating within the ebb and flow of life on this planet and are all subjected to both the positive and negatives ramifications of our shortsighted actions, and if there’s one thing we can all do to actually work to create a better future, it’s recognize our inherent interdependence on and interconnection to everything in this world, because we are a part of nature, not a part from it.

If you’re enjoying these vids and want more of ‘em, you can help support their production by becoming a paid supporter on patreon or substack via the link in my bio 🤙

#nature #misconception #myth #realitycheck #truth #neat #outside #funfacts #god #capitalism #natural #aunaturel by @nerdyaboutnature

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7 months ago

Humbled, honored and absolutely stoked to be featured in this recent @outsidemagazine piece! It’s quite the comparison they’re making here - not sure I’m on the same level as @billnye but heck, maybe someday!

You can read the full article at Outside online via the link in my bio! 🤙

Thanks to each of you for showing your support for this project and helping keep nature neat, it’s truly inspiring and gives me hope for a better world tomorrow.

Huge thanks to @maiareillyw for the great interview and incredible wordsmithing, and to @lenandrian for capturing that blue steel 🙌

#outside #magazine #news #zoolander #bluesteel #outsidemagazine #neat #education by @nerdyaboutnature

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4 years ago

In temperate oldgrowth forests like this one here in Wanachus-Hilthuuis, a Tla-O-Qui-Aht Tribal Park that has been stewarded by Tla-O-Qui-Aht peoples for millennia, trees falling over is a natural part of the ecological complexity.

When a tree dies and falls over, it is slowly broken down by fungi, insects and other decomposers, and mosses are often the first to colonize these new areas to grow on the bark. These mosses store moisture, and provide a substrate for other species to germinate on, such as hemlocks, cedars, huckleberry and ferns, which gives them an advantage by growing above the fierce competition on the forest floor where they can get better access to light. These fallen trees become nurse logs, that host the next generation of forest, and as those small trees gradually grow on top of the fallen one, their roots wrap around the tree and into the soil where they plug into a rich network of mycchorizal fungi that connect everything here to get the nutrients they need to thrive.

Eventually, the decomposers finish off the log, and what’s left is a hollow tube or flying buttress root structure of the trees that succeed, just like this cool little root tube here. This process creates incredible habitat features that bears, Martens, and all sorts of other critters will den and shelter in, and the trees that grow here will eventually die, fall over and continue this process for generations of forest, living, growing, and dying.

These complexities are a result of all the previous complexities before it, so while a tree growing here may be a thousand years old, the structural complexities they create are based on a previous tree being a thousand years old, on and on, with the structures we see today in the present being the culmination of 3, to 5, to 10 thousand years of complex ecological processes.

In other words, a forest is so much more than how old the individual trees are at any given point, and thus, they are so much more valuable and intricate than we tend to think, and so absolutely priceless.

@tlaoquiaht.tribal.parks

#tribalparks #tlaoquiaht #nurselog #ecology #nature #forest #oldgrowth #ecosystem #logging #forestry #biodiversity #climate by @nerdyaboutnature

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“Emily Lowan and the BC Greens are the only ones who actually have a platform that fights for equitable change and a livable future for all of us fellow non-trillionaires, to make life better for everyone in the province, from the working class loggers to school teachers, the elderly to unhoused, for everyone regardless of your race, class, gender or species.”
- Ross Reid
Environmental Educator, @nerdyaboutnature by @nerdyaboutnature

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2 days ago

As rain falls in a mature, complex forest, the diversity of trees, shrubs, mosses and ferns all slow the flow of water through these ecosystems to mitigate flooding and sedimentation of waterways. Mature trees with complex crowns contain intricacies that promote through-fall of rain, shedding water along their drip line, and the complex, intertwined roots of all this diversity of plants uptakes that water to conduct photosynthesis, while mosses, downed wood and organic matter soak it up to slow its flow downstream. Those roots also work to hold soils together when they become saturated, reducing landslides and erosion, and all of this works to filter water and create healthy freshwater ecosystems downstream.

When forests are industrially logged, they are often clearcut to maximize efficiency and profits. The lack vegetative growth and soil doesn’t hold moisture well, and so these forests tend to dry out very quickly, making them more prone to drought which inadvertently stunts the growth of the trees growing here, increasing their stress and making them more prone to fire.

The tight canopies of secondgrowth forests increases stem-flow of rain, and that, combined with the lack of vegetation on the forest floor, increases the overland flow of water and thus erosion, removing soils and making it difficult for things to grow, while creating flashy, flood-prone river systems.

Through ecologically thinning these secondgrowth forests to create canopy gaps that increase the diversity of species growing in the understory, as well as the spacing and structural complexity of the remaining trees to create a multi-layered canopy, we can increase the amount of vegetation growing here to uptake more moisture, with strong roots that prevent erosion, landslides, and flooding. Though it is no substitute for the preservation of mature, complex forests in the first place, ecological restoration of the unhealthy secondgrowth forests created through industrial logging can help improve the hydrological flows of these landscapes for a better future for all who rely on them.

#forest #ecology #science #restoration #nature #logging #water #forestry #funfacts #dobetter #oldgrowth by @nerdyaboutnature

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3 days ago

The BC NDP recently called a snap election in an attempt to gain an even stronger majority in government. Now, I’m not running in these provincial elections this time around, which gives me the ability to speak a bit more candidly, so let me be extremely blunt here:

The BC NDP are spineless grifters who will say whatever you want to hear to get elected but will only ever act in ways that benefits big industry and billionaires, and the BC conservatives are far worse in every way, and together, these two are going to use fear tactics to try and scare you into ‘strategically voting’ for one over the other in a futile race to the bottom that continues the downward spiral of growing wealth inequality, worsening economic conditions, and deteriorating environmental and climatic conditions.

The more we allow the flaws of our system to exploit our primal instincts that keep us voting based out the fear of something terrible rather than for the love of something great, the further we’ll go from from the futures we actually want to create.

You do have a choice here, there is another option.

@emilylowan and the @greenpartybc have done an incredible job of building a platform that looks at the reality of the world we live in and takes constructive actions to build a better future for all of us, with no gimmicks or bush beating. They are the only ones who actually have a platform that fights for equitable change and a livable future for all of us fellow non-trillionaires, to make life better for everyone in the province, from the working class loggers to school teachers, the elderly to unhoused, for everyone regardless of your race, class, gender or species.

Choose to believe in something better by voting for a party with integrity, because only when we stop letting our actions be guided by fear and instead be guided by the love for a different, better future, will we be able to actually create one.

Vote BC Green Party. 💚

#BC #election #green #vote #yourvotematters #betterfutures

...anyone else notice the cute little visitor I had while shooting this? They came out at the perfect time to sum it all up taken in British Columbia by @nerdyaboutnature

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8 days ago

It’s not ‘wilderness’ - it’s a garden.

This Western Redcedar is a Culturally Modified Tree that was utilized by Tla-O-Qui-Aht peoples hundreds of years ago, whom have been stewarding these lands since time immemorial, and there’s a lot we can learn about these relationships to help guide us towards a better future.

These subtle scars are from bark strippings, in which sections of the trees bark were removed to be used in numerous ways, from weaving, to rope making, clothing, boxes, and so much more. Most importantly, this is only done on a small part of the tree, leaving the cambium layer intact so that the tree could continue to grow and thrive within this ecosystem, slowing rolling over this wound with layers of bark to seal it off.

Many big older trees have had many bark pullings done over their lives, gifting their bark back to the human peoples they shared these ecosystems with, the peoples who steward salmon and allow these trees to thrive, yet you wouldn’t ever know it because the bark has sealed off the would, showing no sign of the pulling. Instead, we know this because when modern logging practices clearcut forests and cut down ancient trees, the patterns left in the heartwood denotes bark pullings at several points over hundreds of years…but now those trees are gone, all so that some fat cat on wall street can make a little bit more profit.

Contrary to this mindset, Indigenous worldviews like that of Tla-O-Qui-Aht often view human people as just one type of person amongst all these other non-human people in these ecosystems, all working together sharing gifts of reciprocity to survive together, as one big family.

With over 72,000 culturally modified trees within 100 meters of the coastline, forests like this are NOT wilderness, but instead gardens where human peoples have reciprocally participated in and stewarded these lands to create abundance that allows for all to thrive.

@tlaoquiaht.tribal.parks

#CMT #indigenous #relationship #cedar #treeoflife #westernredcedar #forest #ecology #wilderness #nature #forestry #logging #nonhumanpeople #worldview #dobetter #betterfuture taken in Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Park by @nerdyaboutnature

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9 days ago

Complex mature, oldgrowth forests contain a rich diversity of plant and tree species, and this complexity insulates the forest as a whole - it shades everything and retains moisture during the hot months to keeps things well-watered and at a nice cool temperature, and during the winter, this complexity reduces wind and keeps things from getting too cold when temperatures dip.

When forests are industrially logged, all that complexity is immediately lost, and clearcuts can be over 10 degrees warmer than a mature forest. This heat not only dries up these soils, but colder temps during the winter stunts the growth of things that regrow here.

Secondgrowth forests lack the complexity of understory vegetation of mature forests that stores moisture. The tight canopy may provide shade and reduced temperatures to the understory, but this lack of vegetative growth and rich soils doesn’t hold moisture well, and so these forests tend to dry out very quickly, making them more prone to drought which inadvertently stunts the growth of the trees growing here, increasing their stress and making them more prone to fire.

Ecological restoration of secondgrowth forests through thinning and planting of diverse species can increase the complexity of these forests to store more moisture, reducing drought and keeping temperatures more suitable for the native species here. Though it’s no substitute for preserving intact mature, complex forests in the first place, forest restoration like this can help increase the complexity and oldgrowth characteristics in simplified secondgrowth forests created through industrial logging to speed up their succession and create healthier forests more resilient to the impacts of anthropogenic climate change.

#oldgrowth #forest #ecology #logging #water #rain #hydrology #restoration #science #climate #climatechange taken in Pacific North West by @nerdyaboutnature

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11 days ago

These beauties are Goldenrod and Asters, which bloom together late in the summer throughout eastern Tuttle Island, and they’re a keystone species in these grasslands that are an important food source for pollinators here, while also supporting biodiversity by providing home and food to a wide range of critters.

The bright yellow flowers of Canadian Goldenrod, Solidago canadensis, contrasts brilliantly with the purple of the New England Aster, Symphotrichum novae-angliae, and since purple and yellow are complimentary colours on opposite side of the colorwheel, they appeal very nicely to the cones in our eyes that perceive purples and yellow, and have thus become a quintessential attraction within these grasslands at this time of year.

Many pollinators of these species are also attracted to these colours, notably bees, who have trichromatic vision that sees a different spectrum of light than we do. On the high end of the spectrum, bees can’t see red, but they can see yellow to purple, and even into ultraviolet light. These petals also have patterns on them which are only visible in the UV spectrum, known as nectar guides, that are specially tailored to pollinators.

Together, these two plant species have co-evolved to appeal to their favourite pollinators, and when these they grow together, they have higher pollination rates that not only helps further their genetic success, but makes for more efficient pollen collection for the bees, which is a good thing for all others who depend on them. So in other words, these different flowers have evolved to work together along with the bees to create a system of mutual flourishing in which they all are able to thrive together, and in the process, these relationships create healthy, diverse ecosystems that allows all sorts of other non-human people to thrive, and knowing all of this just makes this pretty sight even prettier, don’t ya think?

#goldenrod #aster #science #ecology #grassland #nature #bees #pollinator #wildflower #ontario #turtleisland #toronto taken in Ontario, Canada by @nerdyaboutnature

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13 days ago

Not sure about y’all, but I’ve found social media and the entire news cycle these days totally and completely overwhelming.

One of the best things I’ve found to clear my mind from it all is getting out into nature amongst some of the last, great, wild places left in North America…but the problem is that if we disconnect entirely and stop paying attention, as great as that all may sound for our mental health, we’ll end up losing these outdoor spaces we all love and depend on so much.

Amongst all the madness happening in the world today, you may have missed the constant assaults on our public lands that the Trump administration is conducting, with the recent plans to rescind the roadless rule, threatening 45 million acres of lands from logging and extraction, from Alaska’s Tongass National Forest down through the pacific northwest, rockies, and out east. Despite the millions of Americans who enjoy and depend on these lands in numerous ways, the tourists who come to see them, the rich mosaic of communities supported by these lands, and over 99% of comments in a recent public input period being in favour of keeping the roadless rule in place, the Trump administration seems hell bent on axing this rule to open up these forests for clearcut logging and further extraction and thus destruction of these lands.

It’s not in the benefit of his base supporters, so whats the motive here? All to make a few rich billionaires a little bit richer off the public lands we all depend on.

I know it’s tempting to unplug and try to get away from it all, but if we do that now, we’ll lose the places we love to get away to, so please, take 5 minutes from your day to click the link in our bio and help keep the Roadless Rule in place for our collective enjoyment, prosperity, and…sanity.

#roadlessrule #escape #nature #america #protect #roadless #wilderness #climate #takeaction #act by @nerdyaboutnature

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18 days ago

Trees like this ancient Western Redcedar can be thousands of years old, forming structural complexities that host all sorts of biodiversity, and the ecosystems they form hold all sorts of complexity that performs numerous ecological functions. This diversity and complexity of these forests not only help prevent anthropogenic climate change from getting worse, but they help mitigate the impacts we’re already feeling to create healthy lands, waters, and communities who depend on it all.

With all the changes coming our way, once these forests are cut down they will likely never grow back with the same complexity witnessed here, even in thousands of years.

Given that over 95% forests like this across BC have already been clearcut logged and lost, forests like this incredible rare and special, but unfortunately, within the next year or so, this block is slated to be auctioned off to the highest bidding logging company so that they can clearcut it down to extract as much privatized profit as possible, even though the BC NDP committed to protecting these same forests.

With some of the hottest years on planet earth in the last 120,000 years occurring in just the past 4 years, biodiversity loss across the globe at an all time high, and a forest industry struggling to support communities amongst a volatile global market, it’s more important now than ever that we work to protect the last of these old growth forests, restore the ecological complexity in the second growth forests we’ve created, and create a truly sustainable forest industry that sustains more than just economy, but ecology and biodiversity as well.

In other words, it’s time the BC Government finally takes action on all 14 recommendations from the old growth strategic review that they committed to over 5 years ago, in order to protect not only these forests and all who depend on them, but our shared future.

Or…vote out the NDP, who arrogantly called a very inconvenient snap election, and instead vote for a party with integrity and plans to actually create a better future - @greenpartybc 💚

#oldgrowth #forest #ecology #nature #biodiversity #ecology #science #education #logging #bc #election #climate taken in British Columbia by @nerdyaboutnature

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21 days ago