In the 1990’s it became understood that if just one third of the Brazilian rainforest was removed, the rest could just collapse of it’s own accord due to loss of its own climate stabilising processes – for instance the Amazon generates up to fifty percent of its own rainfall by recycling water through plants, but if too many trees are lost this process will breakdown. A recent study revises this tipping point down from 30 to just 20-25% of forest loss, with current loss already at 17-19%. 1

There therefore exists a Last Tree, a tree which if cut down, could set off this whole chain reaction transforming lush species rich forest, part of the lungs of the planet, into perhaps nothing more than drought tolerant savanna.

There are similar tipping points in different areas, and the Last Tree Tribe arises to encourage us to wake up to our reciprocal rootedness in nature – that we cannot live without our roots and we must learn to give back not just take from it.

The way Dex has worked in the past has been to offer mission sheets which include various suggested actions for which if you take some of, not only may you contribute to the great turning towards a more healthy relationship with our planet, you could also receive a small sticker/badge for doing so.

We are in the process of revisiting actions for the Last Tree Tribe and will post a link/further details soon.

Notes

1. https://news.mongabay.com/2018/03/amazon-forest-to-savannah-tipping-point-could-be-far-closer-than-thought-commentary/

Although Amazon Forest Dieback (AFD) is debated, Delphine Clara Zemp, an ecologist and biogeographer at the University of Gottingen in Germany who was not involved in the study said “a great step forward to show policymakers that AFD should be considered seriously despite the large uncertainties” Already more drought tolerant species are replacing aging rainforest trees. “we should not await the impacts of climate change to realize how dependent we – even urban dwellers – are on the amazon forest” said one of the authors of  a report on FDA,  D. Lapola. Co author Lovejoy said “Reforestation… and minimizing further deforestation is cenral to maintaining the integrity of the (water) cycle.” The report highlights the costs of 20 “no-regrets” adaption measures ,” would be “a fraction of the economic losses estimated if no action were taken.”