Live data from Hacker News

Arborists Have Cloned Ancient Redwoods from Their Massive Stumps

e360.yale.edu

61–70 of 121 posts

Re: Arborists Have Cloned Ancient Redwoods from Their Massive Stumps

#61
Where and when can I buy one?

Look, this is one of those cool cases where the free market may be able to help the environment instead of harming it. Sell these seedlings for $200/each. Some number of people (myself included) will happily buy them, then plant them wherever and the world has more of these amazing trees. The funds can be used to further the cause of helping forests and old trees.

Re: Arborists Have Cloned Ancient Redwoods from Their Massive Stumps

#62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let's not forget the horrendous speed we are destroying Amazon's rainforsests. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestation_of_the_Amazon_ra...

"we" are not doing that; if "we" did "we" could take responsibility and stop it. There's some very specific companies and governments we can point a finger at.

If you eat meat there's very high change that it has been fed by soy from Brazil.

Re: Arborists Have Cloned Ancient Redwoods from Their Massive Stumps

#63
post #61

Where and when can I buy one? Look, this is one of those cool cases where the free market may be able to help the environment instead of harming it. Sell these seedlings for $200/each. Some number of people (myself included) will happily buy them, then plant them wherever and the world has more of these amazing trees. The funds can be used to further the cause of helping forests and old trees.

You can currently purchase redwood seeds online to grow yourself! Plant them in peat moss in large groups to be sure they survive, as most seeds are not viable. Keep them warm until they germinate, too!

However, redwoods are really, really destructive anywhere that isn't a wide open field. Their roots will tear up concrete and pipes. Also, they shed branches like crazy during rapid growth, which deals damage to surrounding structures or flora.

Just something to keep in mind! If you have space and they won't be a danger to current inhabitants of the area, go for it.

Re: Arborists Have Cloned Ancient Redwoods from Their Massive Stumps

#65
post #28

“Cloning” here seems the wrong (click-batey) choice of words. They have horticulturally propagated redwood trees - that’s a relatively simple technique, commonly used by your average gardener. What’s special here is that they found which conditions maximize the yield of the redwoods propagation and they are planting colonies of the new trees in areas around the world that offer particularly good/promising climatic co…

> As these are very large trees, establishing large colonies can have a relatively meaningful impact in carbon capture.

Also, they're fast growing, so they capture carbon quickly, and store it for a long time. Plus the fact that, if they're harvested, the wood is relatively rot-resistant. So carbon could be stored over even longer periods, if the wood were used for ~permanent structures.

Still, there's something ironic about that way of thinking. Or at least, something anthrocentric. I recall seeing a huge tree in ~coastal Washington, perhaps this Sitka Spruce.[0] And I recall a large sign, which explained how much could be built with it. Arguably the same attitude, but with different goals. Funny.

0) https://www.americanforests.org/big-trees/sitka-spruce-picea...

Re: Arborists Have Cloned Ancient Redwoods from Their Massive Stumps

#66
post #61

Where and when can I buy one? Look, this is one of those cool cases where the free market may be able to help the environment instead of harming it. Sell these seedlings for $200/each. Some number of people (myself included) will happily buy them, then plant them wherever and the world has more of these amazing trees. The funds can be used to further the cause of helping forests and old trees.

I couldn't agree with this more. Living in the midwest though I'm sure these tree's won't be able to live here. That being said I'd love to see a list of trees that work well as carbon sinks for other geographic area's.

Re: Arborists Have Cloned Ancient Redwoods from Their Massive Stumps

#67
post #54
post #28

“Cloning” here seems the wrong (click-batey) choice of words. They have horticulturally propagated redwood trees - that’s a relatively simple technique, commonly used by your average gardener. What’s special here is that they found which conditions maximize the yield of the redwoods propagation and they are planting colonies of the new trees in areas around the world that offer particularly good/promising climatic co…

This usage of the word "cloning" is widespread in the horticultural community, and it's indeed used by your average garden as well.

Yep, even the act of rooting stem cuttings is often referred to as "cloning".

Re: Arborists Have Cloned Ancient Redwoods from Their Massive Stumps

#68
post #61

Where and when can I buy one? Look, this is one of those cool cases where the free market may be able to help the environment instead of harming it. Sell these seedlings for $200/each. Some number of people (myself included) will happily buy them, then plant them wherever and the world has more of these amazing trees. The funds can be used to further the cause of helping forests and old trees.

You can currently purchase redwood seeds online to grow yourself! Plant them in peat moss in large groups to be sure they survive, as most seeds are not viable. Keep them warm until they germinate, too! However, redwoods are really, really destructive anywhere that isn't a wide open field. Their roots will tear up concrete and pipes. Also, they shed branches like crazy during rapid growth, which deals damage to surro…

Found them to be difficult to grow. Average dry flat air is not good, to wet and they rot. Need water spray regularly.

Re: Arborists Have Cloned Ancient Redwoods from Their Massive Stumps

#69
post #65
post #28

“Cloning” here seems the wrong (click-batey) choice of words. They have horticulturally propagated redwood trees - that’s a relatively simple technique, commonly used by your average gardener. What’s special here is that they found which conditions maximize the yield of the redwoods propagation and they are planting colonies of the new trees in areas around the world that offer particularly good/promising climatic co…

> As these are very large trees, establishing large colonies can have a relatively meaningful impact in carbon capture. Also, they're fast growing, so they capture carbon quickly, and store it for a long time. Plus the fact that, if they're harvested, the wood is relatively rot-resistant. So carbon could be stored over even longer periods, if the wood were used for ~permanent structures. Still, there's something iron…

So if I'm understanding this correctly, we're essentially terraforming Earth...

Re: Arborists Have Cloned Ancient Redwoods from Their Massive Stumps

#70

Sadly a lot of our forest eco-systems, especially in CA are at risk. Drought, poor forest management, bark beattle, over forestation, etc. Were forestry practices 100+ years ago good, not really - a lot of these ancient trees spawned eco-systems in themselves (evident in the Headwaters groves). That said, modern "do nothing" approaches pushed by environmental "concerns" are the exact opposite of the over-logging. Sad…

Can you explain what's wrong with the "do nothing" approach? It seems to me to be the most natural and clearly the cheapest too. Perhaps simple steps like putting up fences or signs saying 'nature reserve, keep out" might be worthwhile, but I don't see how any more invasive steps will lead to a more natural forest.

Because massive blazes are part of nature too and people yell for theire overgrown backyards to be protected by firefighters from their own Disney enviromentalistic stupidity. Finally.. You can not have half a nature. In nature various ecosystems battle one another for light and resources. Forrest fights savannah. Without all the foot soldiers (massive bison numbers etc. this half nature grows unchecked to the absolut limit of burnable material. Either humans replace animal roles and restore a healthy state or the neighborhood gets bbqued once every season
Post reply on HN