More than trees under threat in Tuscany
Monash PhD student, Fabrizio D'Aprile in the midst of the Tuscan silver firs
By Fabrizio D'Aprile
The relationship between man and the forest environment has developed and changed through millennia. And nowhere has this been more memorably played out than in Tuscany.
The cultural and environmental heritage of the Tuscan Apennine Alps is unique in the world. It is difficult to find such a high concentration of valuable (and peculiar) landscapes with such historical, religious, cultural, architectural, artistic and environmental significance.
Many famous historical figures in history have interacted with, or used, the Tuscan forest as inspiration for their work. Among the most famous are Hannibal, Guido Monaco, Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo, Napoleon and John Milton, to name just a few.
Across centuries, people have left an imprint on this landscape. And despite human intervention, we can still see today some of the extraordinary natural features of the region that our ancestors marvelled at one hundred, two hundred and even one thousand years ago. The Etruscans – the first major civilisation in this region of Italy – implemented transport infrastructure, agriculture and mining well over 2000 years ago. In the 14th and 15th centuries, major engineering works of the period saw small dams established throughout the region. Until the mid 20th century large parts of the forests were cut down for fuel or to make way for agriculture.
Up until now, the environment – like the people who have inhabited it – has adapted. But now, this richly historic environment is under threat. Climate change and other factors may seriously threaten the Apennine Alps and the consequences are potentially devastating – and permanent. This time, the alterations to the landscape may offer no way back for the forests.
One example is that the forests show high incidence of ‘rot butt’, a severe, complex disease affecting up to 70 per cent of silver fir, the main native coniferous species of the area. There is little knowledge about how much rot butt affects decline and mortality of silver fir populations, and whether climate alterations and/or other environmental and anthropogenic factors are the main causes of the severe health condition.
Monash is the only non-Italian university attempting to learn more about the disease in this region, and at the same time discover ways in which the landscape can be sustained. We have already made some crucial findings, but far more research needs to be done.
We need to identify what the problems are – to get a more thorough understanding of what is causing the trees to become diseased – and solutions to prevent insurgence of the problem or to minimise its impact.
Why? Social responsibility, social justice and a moral duty to current and future generations strongly motivate the need to preserve the unique cultural and environmental heritages that belong to the whole world.
It would be more than a shame to lose or damage – because of passivity – the knowledge, goods and expertise that have been developed through several centuries. We should not deprive our young and future generations of something that can never be replaced, rebuilt or “copied” – and the chances that they have to learn from it.
Fabrizio D'Aprile is a PhD candidate with the School of Geography and Environmental Science.