‘Trees taught me growth is not necessarily good’: Doug Larson
Doug Larson shares his personal journey of discovering ancient forests and the lessons he learned from them.
Discovering the Ancient Forests
As a child, Doug Larson found solace in nature. Being tall and skinny, he was often the target of bullying, but he found comfort in plants, bugs, and animals. This connection with the natural world eventually led him to become a professor of biology at the University of Guelph, where he discovered some of the oldest and least-disturbed forests in eastern North America.
Larson's research began with studying lichens, the most marginalized and misunderstood plants in the world. He was drawn to their ability to survive in harsh environments, and this curiosity led him to explore the Niagara Escarpment, a brutal habitat that had been neglected by other researchers. To his surprise, he found ancient trees clinging onto this harsh landscape, defying the common belief that all the old-growth forests in southern Ontario had been clear-cut.
The Rediscovery of Ancient Forests
The discovery of these ancient trees was a groundbreaking moment for Larson and his team. They found trees that were more than 1,000 years old, hidden in plain sight near the busiest highway in North America. This urban setting made their existence even more astonishing. Inspired by this find, Larson extended his research to other parts of the world and uncovered ancient forests in France, the US, New Zealand, Germany, and England.
These ancient forests, growing on cliffs and limestone outcrops, turned out to be biodiversity hotspots. Larson's work highlighted the importance of preserving these unique ecosystems, which have often been overlooked and undervalued. The media took notice of Larson's findings in 1988, and the interest in ancient forests has continued to grow ever since.
Lessons from Ancient Trees
Through his work with ancient trees, Larson learned valuable lessons about life and sustainability. He realized that growth is not always essential or beneficial. In a world obsessed with productivity, the slow, cautious, and careful can bring peace and joy just as much as the fast and famous. Ancient forests, untouched by human exploitation, show us that we must ask less of the planet if we want it to sustain us indefinitely.
Larson's experience with ancient trees has humbled him and made him reevaluate humanity's role in the universe. By studying and preserving these ancient forests, we can establish a more sustainable relationship with nature and ensure a brighter future for generations to come.
