Q Only - History of Reverence/Symbolism for Forests (10/1/15)

Q only - History of Reverence/symbolism for Forests (10/1/15)

1. Why do humans really like and have a psychological link to trees and forests? Why don’t we have the same psychological link to grass?

2. What is a typical life span of a human compared to a native tree growing in Washington State?? How do we know how old a tree is? What is the relevance of knowing that a tree records climate change, fires or floods?

3. In class, you were presented three reasons why past societies revered trees/forests. List one of these reasons and suggest why you think this contributed to the long-term reverence of trees by human societies?

4. What reason was mentioned in today’s class readings to support the idea that humans have cultural and psychological relationships to trees? The FAO article stated “Although veneration of certain trees or groves may persist in local traditions, tree worship has for the most part disappeared from the modern world.” Based on what you heard in class, do you agree that human symbolic relationships to trees is only found in a few past societies? [Reading file names: FAO ForestsTreeSymbolismFolklore; TreesHumankind_CulturalPsychologicalBindings]

5. Describe the past relationships that exist between trees and the Oubangui people living in the Central African Republic? What is the significance of linking a person’s life to the growth changes experienced by one tree?

6. List and define 2 terms in forestry that were derived from the Roman god of forests, groves and wild fields? What is the symbolism of using these terms in the forestry profession today?

7. What is the story of the Snorra-Edda and why is a tree so prominent in it? Was the Snorra-Edda simply a story about a tree and how it grows? Explain your last answer.

8. Why would your values for nature determine whether you will support the conservation of a species, cut down a forest or how you design conservation protected areas? What did Cameron McClean’s paper in the readings suggest needed to be part of this discussion?

9. Describe the basic idea behind the Biosphere reserve zonation system developed by UNESCO. How well does this zonation system work for conservation and for indigenous communities living in a biosphere reserve? What is the view of indigenous communities of the Biosphere reserve zonation system?

10. Speculate what you think is the take home message of today’s class reading entitled ‘In China, ‘Once the Villages Are Gone, the Culture Is Gone’ By Ian Johnson, Feb. 1, 2014.