WATERAX’s Post

This review by Josie is great but incomplete because it does not mention the contribution by Henry George whose 1879 classic book "Progress and Poverty" asked and answered the question of the polarization of the two classes of people (the rich and the poor) in society, in view of the great progress being made (then!) in technical developments. His answer was that it is due to how the natural resources, particularly useful sites of land are privatized by landowners, who exploit the opportunities that it provides. These opportunities should be fairly shared because the land is a gift of nature (if not of God) for all to use and benefit from. George proposed a tax on land values as a single tax, to replace all other kinds, and it would provide more than sufficient for good governmental use. Obviously, the landowners were opposed and with a few notable exceptions, it was never enacted as a legal way for creating better social justice. This is still true today and explains among other things how home prices are so high and continue to grow.

Cultural burning, practiced for millennia by indigenous peoples, plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems and reducing wildfire risks. These intentional, low-intensity fires enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, and help manage invasive species. Embracing cultural burning is not just about restoring landscapes, but also about honoring Indigenous Knowledge and Stewardship. As we face increasing wildfire threats, integrating these traditional practices offers a sustainable path forward.

Great insights in this piece about #indigenousKnowledge #prescribedburning & more

Discover the Beauty of Oxbow Lakes: A Guide to Exploring and Preserving These Natural Wonders Introduction to Oxbow Lakes: Exploring and Preserving These Natural Treasures ... Read More - https://lnkd.in/dWmpKHVf

What are salt marshes & why are they important? 💡 We humans have a habit of thinking in terms of opposition: there’s rain or shine, hot or cold, and land or sea – to name but a few. Salt marshes, however, are something in between. This National Marine Week, learn all about this vital habitat here: https://lnkd.in/eQ6d32Bd

We can credit nature with preserving or protecting habitat in this example. What about in our own town or yard? https://lnkd.in/e5XTM6AG

Post-cyclone tree failure patterns in New Zealand 🇳🇿 Menno Kluiters has been climbing trees professionally for 25 years and has been privileged to work alongside many skilled and passionate arborists worldwide. Join us at the upcoming conference as Menno shares the tree failure patterns from Cyclone Gabrielle. 🔎 What Happened? New Zealand endured cyclone Gabrielle on 13th and 14th February 2023. Tairāwhiti/Gisborne was one of the regions especially hard hit, with multiple recordings of rainfall of over 600mm during that time. With the ground already saturated, rivers burst their banks causing unimaginable damage to infrastructure and property. This extraordinary event led to numerous whole-tree failures, but very few were due to high winds as you would expect from a cyclone. The region’s geology is the most erosion prone in the country and tops the charts internationally. Indeed, most trees failed due to erosion or more accurately whole hillside collapse. This has led to unique failure patterns and this presentation will highlight them, presenting case studies on single trees, erosion in old-growth forest and silt deposits. ⚠️Don't Miss Out! Join us at the upcoming conference 9-11th September at the University of Warwick, Coventry. EARLY BIRD TICKETS AVAILABLE TIL 9TH AUGUST Book your tickets: trees.org.uk/conference

Farmer and writer, Wendell Berry, on the persistence of rivers: "To a river, as to any natural force, an obstruction is merely an opportunity. For the river's nature is to flow; it is not just spatial in dimension, but temporal as well. All things must yield to the impulse of the water in time, if not today then tomorrow or in a thousand years. If its way is obstructed then it goes around the obstruction or under it or over it and, flowing past it, wears it away. Men may dam it and say that they have made a lake, but it will still be a river. It will keep its nature and bide its time, like a caged wild animal alert for the slightest opening. In time it will have its way; the dam like the ancient cliffs will be carried away piecemeal in the currents." Source: The Unforeseen WildernessFarmer and writer, Wendell Berry, on the persistence of rivers:

🏞 Everybody needs beauty, as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to the body. 🤔 Have you ever wondered why we have our famous national parks? John Muir, a well-known naturalist and conservationist, lobbied top politicians to create these national parks. His efforts were not in vain, as he convinced President Teddy Roosevelt to save Yosemite and other natural wonders. 🙏 Thanks to Muir and Roosevelt, we have access to breathtaking scenery that helps us reconnect with nature and find peace. 👇 Check out this article to learn more about Muir's incredible legacy: https://lnkd.in/gsP5pJ_i

The Pantanal, located in São Lourenço, Brazil, is the largest wetland in the world, teeming with life, and is facing devastating fires in 2024. Over 661,000 hectares have been lost, threatening the delicate balance of this unique ecosystem and the countless species that call it home, including jaguars and capybaras. The Guató Barra Indigenous communities, who have lived in harmony with the Pantanal for generations, are witnessing the land they depend on being transformed by these fires. Those who have contributed the least to climate change are often the ones who suffer the most. The impact on both nature and culture is profound, reminding us of the urgent need to protect this vital region. Denir is one of the Climate Custodians defending the land he calls home. Let’s come together to support the Pantanal and its people. 🌍🔥 #pantanalfires ##pantanalonfire #Pantanalfires2024 #wildfires #climateaction #Guatobarra #ClimateJustice #PantanalCrisis #WetlandsInPeril #GuatoPeople #CulturalHeritage International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), National Geographic Society, João Paulo Soares Silva