FOREST HEALTH AND AIR POLLUTION OBSERVATIONS FROM VERMONT

FOREST HEALTH AND AIR POLLUTION OBSERVATIONS FROM VERMONT

These notes present a snapshot of the seriousness of air pollution and the damage occurring to forest ecosystems in Vermont. While not all the forest health problems described below can be linked to air pollution, the following information should leave no doubt in anyone's mind that air pollution is having severe and widespread effects.

Since virtually all scientists and much of the public now agree that there is an urgent need to curb emissions of greenhouse gases and since the volume of news regarding the serious environmental consequences has become overwhelming, it now makes sense to devote as much time as possible to working on ways to slow and mitigate the damage rather than sounding the alarm. Therefore these pages will be left on the Web, but little new information will be added.

- Gerry Hawkes ~ February 2006

AIR POLLUTION ON VERMONT'S HORIZON
click on link to see photos

Thirty years ago you never saw brown NOx pollution on the horizon. Now it is common

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BLACK FALLOUT

click on link to see photos

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TREES DYING ON HILL BEHIND VERMONT STATE CAPITOL
click on link to see photos

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DYING OF THE GRASS?
An Invasion of Moss
click on link to see photos

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CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF ACID RAIN AND RUNOFF
click on link to see photos

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DECLINE AND DEATH OF EASTERN WHITE PINES?
White Pine Tip Curl
Browning of White Pines
click on links to see photos

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DISASTER IN THE BRANCHES
by Michael Caduto
click on link for full text
"A lot of people are not willing to project a future for which there is no historical precedent. In the past there have been ups and downs in tree health, but this forest decline is different." ~ Gerry Hawkes

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DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE GREAT JANUARY 1998 ICE STORM
click on link for photos

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BROWN LEAVES OF SPRING
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Years ago, brown spring leaves on an individual tree were an unhealthy sign. Now the forests are filled with brown spring leaves.

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GREEN MOUNTAINS LOOK MORE RED THIS SPRING
AP News ~ Montpelier, Vermont ~ May 18, 2002
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TREES AND LIMBS ARE BECOMING MORE BRITTLE
click on link to see photo

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WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE NORWAY SPRUCE?
Norway Spruce Tip Curl
click on links to see photos

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