I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of Shakespeare, but a particular line from Hamlet has always stuck with me.
“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”
These words come to mind particularly when I think about the current state of our forests.
Understandably, people are worried about the “unprecedented changes” occurring in woodland ecosystems. Invasive species are taking over, diseases are killing trees, and desirable organisms are failing to regenerate.
At any given moment, the state of our forests can seem rather bleak.
But when we recall the words of William Shakespeare, our perception of this matter shifts — especially when we consider something fascinating about eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis).
Many people know that an insect is currently threatening the health of eastern hemlock. Nothing about this situation seems good until we understand a critical piece of information: eastern hemlock is no stranger to threats.
In the following video, I discuss an important event of the past that may help us better understand modern-day forests.