Last Online Reading List 2019. No.14.

The Cromdale Hills in late December 2019

Here's my last list of online reading I've enjoyed in 2019. This covers the last two weeks.

The Pacific Crest Trail Thru-Hiker Survey (2019)

Interesting and comprehensive annual survey.

Walking for Mental Health - Doom, Gloom and Green Shoots in the Scottish Hills

Alex Roddie goes from despair to hope in the ecologically devastated Blackmount hills.

The Deep Sea 

A fascinating and surprising scroll-down graphic showing the depths at which various creatures live.

The World's Oldest Forest Has 365-Million -Year-Old Tree Roots 

The oldest forest shows tree roots are much older than thought. Important findings and research described by Katherine J.Wu.

New Year Power Ups

Rewilding Britain lists some positive rewilding stories from 2019.

The religious case for Christmas is well known. But there’s a scientific one too

Alice Roberts says a midwinter festival reflects a real, celestial rhythm.

Werrity - a long wait for not very much

Mark Avery is disappointed in the Grouse Moor Management Group to the Scottish Government, describing it as 'an inexpert report which helps no one'.

Carbon carnage: the real cost of grouse-shooting 

Excellent description of the disastrous effects of grouse-shooting by Lisa Rausing.  

Solstice reset

David Lintern marks the solstice with a contemplative 24 hours in Glen Feshie. Illustrated as usual by his superb photographs.

Lessons from Australia – the environmental crisis, dingoes and deer!

Nick Kempe considers the environmental crisis in Australia and looks at a book showing how the environmental destruction caused by livestock farming there could be reversed, and says this has lessons for farming and re-wilding in Scotland’s National Parks.

Beaver fever – the wonderful benefits of bringing back the little people

Ben Goldsmith praises the beaver and says its return is something to celebrate.

‘Humans were not centre stage’: how ancient cave art puts us in our place

The anonymous, mysterious cave art of our ancient ancestors is exhilarating, says Barbara Ehrenreich. 

 

On the anniversary of John Muir’s death, a wish to see Hetch Hetchy restored 

 

John Muir died on December 24, 1914, a year after it was decided to drown the Hetch Hetchy valley in Yosemite National Park, which he had campaigned to save. Barbara Mossberg says restoring Hetch Hetchy a 'wound will be healed, as the valley itself begins to re-establish its flowers and falls and flowing streams and fauna'.

 

History's Largest Mining Operation Is About to Begin 

 

Mining the sea is going ahead and the negative consequences are unimaginable says Wil S. Hylton in this disturbing piece.

 

'Mother Nature recovers amazingly fast': reviving Ukraine's rich wetlands

 

Finally some optimism. Vincent Mundy shows how removing dams and bringing back native species have restored ecosystems in the Danube delta.