Friday 25 January 2013

Two quotes about forests


In 1902, Professor Bernhard Fernow, who was later called the "father of professional forestry in the United States" had the follwing to say about forests:

„The first and foremost purpose of a forest growth is to supply us with wood material; it is the substance of the trees itself, not their fruits, their beauty, their shade, their shelter, that constitutes the primary object.“

About 2300 years earlier, the Buddha had made this statement:

"The forest is a peculiar organism of unlimited kindness and benevolence that makes no demand for its sustenance and extends generously the products of its life activity; it affords protection to all beings, offering shade even to the axeman who would destroy it."


Many thanks to Ranil Senanayake in whose once again beautifully written online article Forests: BeyondThe Wood I I first came across these two quotes.