The New Disease That's Killing An Iconic Tree

[@naturalnashuan]

Thank you for encouraging people to look at the plants around them. Today I googled a native wildflower that I have growing in my yard, Rabbit Tobacco. I learned that it is Endangered here in New Hampshire. I contacted a plant science organization to give away seeds from my plants. I'll keep some for my own habitat and to sow in proper protected habitats.

[@savage22bolt32]

Connecticut rabbits roll cigars with it. I heard that in NH, they smoke it in clay pipes. JK, hope you can laugh at my comment.

[@justanamerican9024]

In the year 1100AD, if you were to walk the Appalachian Trail, you would be walking through a mostly Beech forest. Through disease and climate change (little Ice age), White Pine and Eastern Hemlock took over and were the dominant trees when Europeans arrived. Where I was a logger and forester, the Beech bark disease destroyed all the mature Beech and in a matter of only one decade, entire forest were gone. It was one of the most devastating events in my career both personally and economically, but environmentally it was nuclear. It will take a century for the forest to return back to a balance the Beech brought to it. But as you pointed out, it will survive through its root system, much like the American Chestnut (a close relative) has as a forest under-canopy brush. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

[@elendil7]

Thank you for sharing this. 😢

[@tnmtnmorning1178]

The demise of the American Chestnut was devastating to the mountain folks of Southern Appalachia as well as to our ecosystem. I wasn’t aware that the root systems survived. I need to look into that! Thanks!

[@justanamerican9024]

tnmtnmorning1178 As a forester, I found large clusters of chestnut brush, some would get to pole size, but alas, the blisters would develop and they would die. I would go back and check on them but I never found any that made it past 8" DBH. We lost the Chestnut trees earlier than the Southeast. It started in NYC in 1898 but reached south later in the 20th century. The Chestnut trees filled in when the European settlers cleared the White Pine and Eastern Hemlock, so there were a lot of Chestnut trees when the blight hit.

[@elendil7]

@@justanamerican9024 Really sad.

[@bdickinson6751]

@@tnmtnmorning1178 Many can still be found here in PA but they don't survive past a certain stage, as previously stated.

[@madamecampsalot6384]

The forested area behind my house in CT has great stands of beech. The really large ones (bigger than I can reach 1/2 way around) have toppled in the last 2 years, having bark issues. Now many smaller ones (huggable sized) can be seen with the striping affect on the leaves. It's so sad for me to see them go.

[@RobWCurrier]

Big fan, Adam. I am a practicing arborist in Newport RI. I also have 65 ac. forest in central Maine….where I prefer to live! I have subscribed to you mushroom talks…have yet to finish them. You are brilliant, engaging, forward-thinking, and practical. Knowing that there are those such as you who are so engaged is a bright ray of sunshine. Thanks for your positive energy in your mission. Rob Currier

[@DGill48]

Any relation to the Curriers of Madison Maine?

[@oliviaglass3843]

Thank you for such brilliant review and praise….

[@oliviaglass3843]

Such a fan of you Adam. Keep this going - I hope your subscribers will grow to a mil and more…. To spread all this knowledge…

[@lorriewatson7423]

Thank you for covering this! I have a 25 acre wood lot in NWPA, with a lot of beech trees. They are sick, I'm concerned.

[@tribalismblindsthembutnoty124]

Keep an eye out for resistant ones! People will want its seeds

[@retiredusmc9090]

Seeing the same signs in NEOH

[@bluwtrgypsy]

Love what you said about all our "wants". Amen

[@bluwtrgypsy]

We have two very huge beautiful copper beech trees in our town park that look very sickly. They have not leafed much this year, very sparse with foliage. So sad. Thank you, Adam.

[@SquirrelDarling1]

I’ve noticed the change in the leaves of beech too. Now I know what’s going on with them and it’s sad. Using chemicals to control this worm doesn’t look like the answer. Hopefully the beech themselves will develop a way of controlling the worms without our help.

[@tribalismblindsthembutnoty124]

as has been done since 500mya.

[@debrapaulino918]

Did not help elm. Maybe close and frequent inspections and cutting infected trees out and burning debris. Stop grind too. Maybe this is already being done.

[@suechandler8162]

Yes, new pathogens are everywhere now that travel from afar is so common . Poisoning is obviously not going to help , it might save one tree for a season but it won't do any good on a whole forest. What are the conditions that the nematode likes? If it is shady and moist then a small quick fire through the area might slow it down. It is a matter of observation and trial . There might be a natural predator in the worm's home country , but then will it eat native nematodes too? Such a complex problem. Just cutting out affected undergrowth in the early Spring , piling and burning it might smoke the little blighters out.

[@suechandler8162]

Maybe cutting down the affected undergrowth in early Spring, piling and burning it, smoking out the remaining nematodes higher up.

[@charleshash4919]

Nematodes killing off all of the Beech trees will provide a solution if we don't respond. If Beech trees respond like American Chestnut trees (with human assistance), it will take more than a century for the beech forests in the North East to effectively start to recover.

[@maxguldin]

Here in Ellsworth, Maine there are many beech trees with the diseased leaves. I have not confirmed the older trees as being affected but will take note of it from here on out. Thank you for the information. As for mushrooms it has been a banner year. Lots of black trumpets, Cow, Hen, hedgehogs, lions mane and chanterelles have been pickled, dried and frozen fresh and there still could be another month or two of foraging to go.

[@mayamachine]

hey I'm your neighbor in Otis Maine, nice to see your comment. my partner and I are about to look into this through soil biology science. if you look up Elaine ingham you can find out how soil biology works. Hope to cross paths, peace

[@mercury82jg]

I can't keep track of all the invasive things killing trees in Ohio. Asian longhorned beetle, woolly hemlock adelgid, emerald ash borer, sudden oak death, butternut canker, spotted lanternfly, chestnut blight... seems like there is a new one every month

[@uptoolate2793]

You forgot Dutch elm disease...

[@FLPhotoCatcher]

@@uptoolate2793 Thousand Cankers disease that kills black Walnut trees is another one.

[@johnlescault3737]

Isn’t globalization great! Hey at least we have cheap consumer products!

[@FLPhotoCatcher]

Black walnut trees have a new threat called Thousand Cankers disease.

[@FLPhotoCatcher]

Look into Thousand Cankers disease.

[@JoeandAngie]

I have beeches from saplings to 230+ yr old big daddys in my yard. Beech, oak and maple old growth in E TN. D Boone walked thru my yard

[@Stolensouls69]

Thanks Adam, I agree with folks wanting everything at their finger tips. And chemicals could be used, but we have so many chemicals in our everyday lives, in our foods, ect. And those you mentioned sound like more problems than they're worth. As always, love your work and can't wait for your next topic. South Central Pennsylvania here. Thanks for all you do...

[@forrestwestberry6868]

Excellent presentation 😁

[@sammylacks4937]

This is the first I've heard of this problem. This will be tough to counter because diagnosis of infected trees will be difficult untill later stages. Beech trees are such beautiful and beneficial species. I hope they don't go the route of Chestnut trees. NC has a prob with Fraser fir and Eastern as well as Carolina hemlock. Thanks for sharing. I believe the first step toward eliminating invasives is educating everyone on what they are , their effects towards Indigenous life and how to help eliminate them from getting a foothold as well as proper removal.

[@paulburley7993]

Here in Southern Ontario we lost all our American Chestnut, then our majestic Elms followed by all our Ash, now all our Hemlock are threatened and now this. I am sickened and beyond sad by all of this.

[@daveinthewildOG]

I appreciate your constant reminders to be observational. And you show how observational you are in collecting your information. I wander some woods nearby me and you've given me a lot more to observe. Also your production value is good, and it gives me inspiration for things I'm working on in the world of KZbin. Your brand is well done.

[@audreytempleton4415]

Thanks Adam.. we'll be on the lookout here in West Virginia.

[@charlesbrunett6324]

This is an awesome informative video! I’d love to see more like this on the different types of illnesses that our trees are dealing with!

[@peterguercio9504]

Interesting and informative.. I am going to look for beech trees tomorrow on my walk in the woods. Thanks for making this video.

[@annamcleod6932]

Hello Adam! Greetings from Kingston, Ontario. Your viewpoint on this topic is very pragmatic. I love your videos. Your video about Lythrum Salicaria came up on my feed and piqued my curiosity. I truly enjoyed your unbiased information and quickly became a subscriber. As an avid gardener and nature lover, I consider your content inspiring. " He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end" Ecclesiastes 3:11

[@JerryMraz.]

This is a must subscribe channel, should almost be mandatory. So much value here, thanks for what you do

[@skehleben7699]

I actually spend a lot of time in the woods and "communing with the trees". I say that with a wink but truly I'm very serious. Watching the bark rain down from the ash trees, they are almost all gone. There was an ash near where I live that was easily 200 yrs old, it would take 3 adults reaching fingertip to fingertip to surround the tree. Watching it die broke my heart. The woods don't look healthy and I get a dark sinking feeling when I walk through the woods.💀

[@louaymasri7873]

You put into exactly words the same thoughts I've had hiking through the woods for the last 10 years. Very sad. My child will probably never get to see a healthy ash or beech tree, just like ive never gotten to see a butternut or chestnut

[@markjones5561]

@@louaymasri7873 I used to have grand illusions of having a cabin in the woods to be closer to the trees. I now realize that that dream would really be standing vigil over a dying world. Still a wonderful thing, perhaps, but really all i'd be doing is watching over a loved one die and making them as comfortable as I can. Walking in the 'wild world' is now just saying a long goodbye to it. Watching the eden we had just fall away. All of us here might not see the end, but we are witnessing the end begin. In My time in the woods we steward I have seen the ash die, the oak die, the elm die, and now the beech. Once the tulip poplar and the hickories die there be little left. But I'm sure some disease or insect will be imported along with some cr@p we don't need, but really really must have (and cheap too), and dang with all the checks at customs, what's a few trees for having that new widget in my hand for a few weeks until I bore of it.? Sometimes, humanity just seems to be a cancer upon the world. :(

[@AdaptiveApeHybrid]

Yo same lol. I feel deep dread going into some areas with real obvious ecological disruption.

[@tomst9417]

In my area of southeast Wisconsin there are vast stands of dead Ash trees. I am wondering what will happen after the Emerald Ash borer kills off all the Ash trees, will they just die off , or will they adapt and start killing a different species of tree?

[@zachrowell6795]

@@tomst9417My hope is that once all the ashes are killed in a certain area, we can let a certain amount of time pass before replanting ash trees, and hopefully all the ash borers will have died from lack of food and the ashes will eventually grow back!

[@torontocitizen6802]

This is honestly one of the very best channels on KZbin!!

[@ericwid]

Thanks Adam. I literally live in a border county in Ohio where this is not reached my trees yet. Thanks for the information I am going to research this subject 👍

[@margieapostolos990]

I'm praying it stays away from Michigan!

[@doloresreynolds8145]

Yes, though the map Adam showed has a county in the thumb that has it…

[@carolthomas770]

We have American Beech in S.Central Ohio forests. Very helpful video. Such a beautiful tree, with no heart, initials carved in!! Thanks for education, Adam.

[@KittyKeypurr]

🫂 never give up. We're listening and we're doing too (well...some are at least 😂). You make a difference in this world and I'm so glad you're here!

[@joekoenig9587]

As a resident of Lake County Ohio, (Painesville Twp.) I can say we have seen the results of this affliction more than most other areas. Although the Beech is not a tree with huge numbers here in the county, we have the Holden Arboretum which has seen damage in their population of American Beech trees. I’m not in favor of using your mentioned chemicals to try to limit this problem. The tree may overcome the infection in time, or simply be replaced by the silver maple, which grows in huge numbers in Ohio and other states. I hope the Beech is able to remain somewhat healthy… it is a beautiful specimen! Thanks for the update.

[@edwardworso4485]

I have a 53 acre property in Geauga County on the border with Lake County. We have a row of beech trees that we suspect were planted on the southern edge of the property line as a border marker a couple hundred years ago. They are huge. There is a corner anchor 240+year old maple tree as well on the property corner. We saw the beginning of this beech leaf disease in 2016. Used to be dark back in that corner. Now there is light and the undergrowth is all chaotic, full of multiflora rose, buckthorn and honeysuckle. It's a shame. We are hoping a solution can be found.

[@chrisgilbert9921]

Adams, Thanks for this information. I live in the Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan which has a significant number of beech trees in our hardwood forests. I was previously unaware of this disease, but will now be able to watch for it during my treks in the woods. Thank you.

[@dianebeier8379]

I'm from the western u.p.of Michigan, and saw the biggest stand of beech trees on a motorcycle ride over your way, 8 years ago, so awesome to see such a stand, hope they are still there!😢😢😊😊

[@karenatha7890]

No toxins, thank you. We are not doing enough to keep nature clean as it is. Thank you for this story. Thanks to all forest carers who don't run for the chemicals.

[@TediumGenius]

I love your channel! Thanks for the report! From the Middletown PA area.

[@terywetherlow7970]

@TediumGenius: Are you seeing any residual problems from that 3 mile island event?

[@TediumGenius]

@terywetherlow7970 Honestly, no. I lived a mile from the facility. I've been outdoors all my childhood, trained as a cyclist before the sport took off here, and listened to all the stories. We were tied to the plant with friends from around the world- engineers from a dozen different countries, and one who even worked with Oppenheimer. My assessment is this: there was radiation in the form of steam that was released, and it was technically a melt down, but it remained contained. There are some that are convinced high rates of cancer existed in one direction or another, but like the Kennedy assassination I'm sure the truth is unachievable- not necessarily conspiratorial- but just that we were not well equipped scientifically to confidently assess the event, and cancer is funny in that rates continue to rise despite having no other nuclear events, in the country in particular. What I did see was a working conservancy. In 20 years in the woods, I never saw what I do now. Red and brown fox, river otters, osprey, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, waterfowl, and the amount of owls we now have. I can only attribute the ban on DDT for this. Ironically, that action arguably caused the greatest number of human deaths from insect transmitted diseases like dengue and malaria in the tropics. (A parallel to what was said in this video- we don't even know what we don't know...) The Susquehanna river installed fish ramps at dams that had prevented migration of native species fish. Though MANY argue they are ineffective, the fact is that fish like Hickory Shad and stepped bass are now showing up in regions north of Middletown and into tributaries as well. Not prolifically, but to me it is an indicator that something has improved. Fishermen are more concerned about the invasion of not-native Snakehead catfish than most anything else for the past five years. When I asked our friend, a brilliant physicist and nuclear engineer, if it were OK to remain where we lived, he said "it is now the safest plant in the world- everyone is watching its operation and the cleanup more closely than at any other facility." I don't fear it, honestly. I DO try to get rations of potassium iodide (I may have the wrong chemicals here,) pills- that slow the uptake of radiation into the thyroid(?) In case of an acute emergency. They are supplied to residents who want them for free on an annual or biannual basis. Leaving here would also mean a high degree of likelihood that there would be another facility to contend with- given where it is almost all of my family is located. So, just one person's opinion, in part, for 35 some years as a resident, outdoorsman, and fisherman in the immediate vicinity.

[@Maxaldojo]

Good explainer video, Adam. I live in Lake County, Ohio and work as a land steward for a local land trust. Part of my responsibilities involves walking conservation easement properties in eastern Ohio. We began noticing something effecting the beech trees in 2011. Some areas were immediately worse than others, though some of those beech stands have gotten worse and some have somewhat recovered. As you pointed out, root suckers sprout around more mature trees, especially when the larger trees are stressed. I think some of the mortality we are seeing, involves these suckers growing and then succumbing to BLD. This makes the forest look worse than it really is. That being said, it's harder to take/witness following the Emerald Ash Borer blowing through our region over the same time period. Thanks for all you do.

[@peterkilbridge6523]

Make that "...something AFFECTING the beech trees..." You should have gotten this in 5th grade. To "effect" is "to carry out", e.g. "The lieutenant put the captain's orders into effect". As a noun, it is the opposite of "cause": "cause and effect". To "affect" is "to have an affect upon", as in "Man's activities are affecting the beech trees". They used to call elementary schools "grammar schools" because they actually taught grammar, which is something that is good for English speakers to learn. They don't teach grammar now, so they don't call them "grammar schools". There's a lot to be said for truth in advertising. For the Forests, 🌿🙏🌿

[@Mr3bedid]

I graduated in 2011 with a degree in Wildlife MGT/ Environmental Science and am shocked at how much has changed in just 12 years. So many new diseases / species that came about after my graduation.

[@katiekane5247]

The loss of pollinators in north Georgia this year is over 90%. Wholly native area, no neighborhood chemicals. We're in big trouble 😵‍💫

[@donnaleveron5711]

Thanks to the geoengineering/chemtrailing the atmosphere with detrimental particulates so as to induce "climate change".

[@Jerseyhighlander]

You can thank the chemtrail spraying for a lot of it. Barium and other micronized metals saturating the ground, destroying the mycorrhizal layers, destroying nutrient uptake and making the trees susceptible to every pest around, but especially those that seem to be pouring in from China.

[@pendlera2959]

@@katiekane5247 It's not just about chemicals, it's also about the lack of native plants for the caterpillars to eat.

[@StoptheLie]

Excellent topic! Thanks for the info.

[@AmakEno]

This is a big issue in southern Connecticut. We've seen old beech trees that are rotting and spreading black rot to the smaller beech trees leaves, likely after the nemotodes have run their course and weakened the trees. It's concerning that people may be experimenting with these dangerous pesticides that could kill the local fauna off due to toxicity. Especially if they are used as a soil treatment, then I would worry that the mycorrhizal system that connects all the living tress and fungal bodies will be affected. I've also heard just recently that something is starting to affect local maples as well. We noticed that alot of young trees , Bushes, and grasses on the trainlines were dying off, possibly because of the use of pesticides to kill off invasive species growing on the edges of the trainlines. And that borders a tidal marsh /nature preserve. So it could even be getting into the ocean and the marshes... Very well put that this is all cause and effect of our taking the land we use for granted for the sake of productivity.

[@sherriianiro747]

Pesticides that are sprayed for insects such as mosquitos and lawn pesticide drift kills trees too.

[@greenman4508]

It’s spreading fast in Maine. I’ve been calling it beech blight from ignorance. Whole forests are sick. Roundworms are evil. Remind me not to eat beechnuts. I’ll be out there with ivermectin trying to find the mouth of a tree. We haven’t had beech trees as big as the one you’re near in my lifetime here. They are all knobby bonsai types.

[@tribalismblindsthembutnoty124]

It was developed for humans suffering from parasites. It is on the WHO list of essential medicines for a country to ensure a stockpile. It stops cell mitosis for a set period. Not a big deal for a macro organism like us, but devastating to viruses and parasites.

[@timcgreen]

I heard an old timer talk about how certain species of mushroom mycelium kill nematodes in soil. May be something to explore.

[@sueyoung2115]

@@timcgreen Paul Stamets is a world known mycologist. He found out that oil spills and radiation can be remediated with mushroom mycelium.

[@f.demascio1857]

Not all roundworms are evil. Some species are vital.

[@greenman4508]

@@f.demascio1857 interesting. The ones I’ve interacted with were terrifying.

[@andrewhorwood1058]

Beech leaf blight is ruining our forests in western Nova Scotia too, as well as ash leaf rust fungus, hemlock woolly adelgid, numerous other new diseases, pests and invasive species. I'm seeing massive changes in our forests in recent decades, mostly for the worse.

[@brotherlittlefoot2216]

Been losing hemlocks for years here in the App Mtns of NC,USA,to the woolly adelgid as well,and firs in the upper elevations are dying due mostly to pollution.

[@williambrandondavis6897]

No, you are the problem. Humans are the most destructive invasive species by several magnitudes. Your house , your roads and your job and your food farms, Your selfish desire to reproduce and consume like a virus and destroy everything you come across is the problem. Take responsibility.

[@christymckee8133]

Neem fights blight

[@electrohustler3621]

Outstanding video series. So much to learn. Thank you!

[@doublevowels6905]

Fantastic video as always!

[@LuEmanuel]

As always, you bring your love for the land into your discourse. Here in southern Quebec, our beech trees are thriving and I hope that this will continue. However, nothing is certain. I'll paraphrase Henry David Thoreau here and say that my greatest skill in life has been to want but little. Life is so rich and meaningful when we seek within rather than outside of ourselves.

[@ritamcclelland3110]

Thanks for another great informative video. Trekking 4,163 miles mostly on Moraine in 2023 I really noticed a lot of saplings affected. Not as much so far this year. Looking forwards to running into you sporadically when you are adventuring my way! There is an absolutely astounding black birch and mature sassafras grove on Alexander Ridge worth adventuring to 😉

[@Maelang2404]

Thank you for all your insights.

[@JeremyBertram-nd3wj]

I have beech trees that are huge on my property. So big it takes two grown men to reach around them. They made a bunch of beech nuts this year and seem healthy. I'll keep an eye on them. Thanks for the heads up. If you need Beech nuts, hit me up, I have plenty.

[@martinsplichal1581]

Thanks for keeping us informed. Cheers.

[@tylernaturalist6437]

Sad, in NY & NJ we get some extensive beech forests with some giant trees. I’d be sad to see the trees perish. The forest behind my house growing up was overwhelmingly made of beech trees, they have such an interesting look to them.

[@wtpollard]

I'm in northern New Jersey. Beech Leaf Disease is widespread in this area already, and in southern New York. The NYNJTC has been following the disease's progression here for a couple of years now. In South Mountain Reservation, near where I live, Beech is probably the most common tree in the forest, but most (80%?) of the beeches you see, hiking through there, show evidence of this disease on some part of the tree. I'm still hopeful it won't be as bad as this video suggests it could be, but Adam definitely knows more about this than I do.

[@AdaptiveApeHybrid]

I am from western NY and have such fond memories of stomping around beech and hickory forests in my youth

[@jareds6611]

I have about 200 massive beech trees on the hill. I love how because of the heavy cover, there is almost no undergrowth where they grow. I cant even imagine seeing the landscape without them. Lucky my county is not affected yet but we are the only lone county in pa without the issue so its inevitable.

[@moria841]

Great vid as always Adam. I wonder if nematophagous fungi could play a role in controling beech leaf disease!

[@tribalismblindsthembutnoty124]

I have a barn full of mice. I get a cat. I have a barn full of cats. I still have some mice. My chicken feed doesn't get eaten by as many mice, but my chickens are now in danger. Life is not a tree, its a fabric. If you pull on one thread the others move in response. Maybe its more like a soup. I move the carrot with my spoon and a potato comes in to fill the void. The only thing that MUST remain constant is the existence of the broth (sunlight, water, co2, nitrogen, ammonia to create energy).

[@victorhopper6774]

@@tribalismblindsthembutnoty124 eat some cats

[@tribalismblindsthembutnoty124]

@@victorhopper6774 I hear cat is very sweet meat. Better than chicken, but more expensive to grow.

[@victorhopper6774]

@@tribalismblindsthembutnoty124 free range cat is easy, just tie up a female in heat😁

[@thomaslawrence3232]

I'm glad this showed up. I saw my beech trees with the crinkled up leaves. I thought it had to do with the dry conditions we were having. I also saw a large beech just die and wondered what happened. Love the channel, keep up the good work.

[@roseagle]

Unfortunately, the sugar maples in our forests in NE Pennsylvania are also suffering some sort of blight which affects the leaves. Fall leaves are dingy yellow, covered with brown spots that resemble cigarette burns. The leaves brown prematurely and fall to the ground. Instead of the usual carpet of color, the forest floor is brown. As yet, I have not heard anyone talk about this, or also, the death of so many blue spruce trees, among other tree species. Thanks for the video, and for alerting us to the dangers of the "remedies". Someone stands to gain on the use of those toxins, and isn't going to be the majority.

[@GayNicholson]

I am seeing same thing in maples here in the Finger Lakes of NY.

[@trishalewisatphoenixfarm5495]

My maples - Vermont - are acting just like yours - the ones that get more sun exposure are the worst on my land .... Hoping it was a weather thing that will not repeat so the trees stay strong

[@michelecalder5245]

Anthracnose and maple leaf blister has been a problem up here in CT this year due to the wet conditions we been having all summer. From what I've read the infections will not kill the trees unless they are in bad shape to begin with. It looks bad but it's primarily cosmetic. Hopefully next year will be a drier year and this won't be an issue.. poor trees need a break.

[@roseagle]

Been seeing this for a good five years or more. @michelecalder5245 I hope you are right. And yes, It does appear to be associated with all the rain we've been having.

[@deborahwhit118]

It's spreading among the trees in MI too, most of the trees, bushes and vegetables are infected. Also have a huge problem with Oriental beetles. Thinking something to do with chemtrails.

[@russellbarndt6579]

Oh my I am so grateful for your interest and knowledge to share with those of us who little but "love our land"and your expressing what we do not know, thank you dude.!

[@elendil7]

Thank you so much for all that you teach us 💚. I believe that the long lasting effects and multi-layered damage done by the use of toxic chemicals makes them NOT a wise solution.

[@HuntBobo]

Well said and intellectually honest.

[@jonnybritnorth7966]

We last year re-introduced the American Chesnut in a small grove to bring it back as part of our reforest plan. The native American Chesnut was at one point 25% of the hardwood canopy of the USA. It was nearly wiped out by Chinese blight in 1926 onwards and is a rare sight today. We have a lot of beech. i hope this dose not creep south

[@Erewhon2024]

25% of the canopy in *some regions* of the USA. It never even existed at all in ~75% of the USA. America is not solely Appalachia. Never grew in the Gulf Coastal Plain (except maybe in severe Ice Ages?). Never grew west of the Mississippi River until introduced by man. Etc.

[@andyroubik5760]

@@Erewhon2024 he said 25% of the hardwood forest. So no he wasn't talking about the Great Plains Etc

[@Erewhon2024]

@andyroubik5760 There are hardwood forests that never had American chestnut because the climate (hydrology, length & severity of winter, soil pH and other chemistry, etc) was/is wrong. For example, hardwood hammocks along the Gulf Coastal Plain do not provide enough winter chilling hours (and were often too wet, since before "white" settlement starting in the 19th century brought attempts at fire suppression, the uplands burned every 5--10 years due to lightning Induced forest fires and sometimes Native initiated fires intended to burn out the overgrowth and trigger fresh growth that their game animals [whitetail deer, bobwhite quail, etc] preferred--the fire climax vegetation is open longleaf pine in that part of the world) . Coastal Plain hammocks were dominated by laurels (before the invasive Redbay Ambrosia Beetle came in via unethical, uncooked packing material from China), evergreen oaks, magnolias, and tupelo. Winter simply isn't long enough for chestnuts to survive.Further south into peninsular FL, subtropical hardwoods begin to displace the oaks and tupelo. In Texas, much of the hardwood forest is mesquite bosque/thornscrub, too dry and hot for chestnuts, though some hickoties do fine. Swamp forests along riparian floodplains even up north have tupelo and many other hardwoods, but are too wet (or rather, too seasonally oxygen starved in their soils) for chestnuts. The USA is a big place, with many different forest types. It is insulting and absurd when morons from the Mid-Atlantic or Appalachia think they speak for everyone else. Please travel a bit. You'll enjoy it.

[@andyroubik5760]

@@Erewhon2024 you have a lot of knowledge and a big ego. The original commenter simply had a fact wrong, lighten up and people will enjoy your comments more and subsequently be better able to learn from you. Enjoy the day

[@Kris-bw7cv]

Haven't seen it yet in Western Massachusetts. Will keep and eye out

[@martheolesh9817]

I wonder if French Marigolds would help. Also, I wonder if Lindera Benzoin, and lots of them under the Beech, would help.

[@StevenEverett7]

Very interesting. I live in RI. I've been on the same property of 26 acres for 71years now. In my wandering thru these woodlands I did come across a small grove of Beech. They have been there for as long as I can remember. There are only a couple of larger trees but others keep sprouting up and then dying. I'm afraid that within a short period of time this grove will disappear. 😢 I remember numerous Elms around the house when I was a youth, but they are all gone now. Several small ones keep trying to come back but after a few years they're gone. So sad.

[@Heavilymoderated]

My favorite tree is hemlock. I’m worried about the whole wooly adelgid situation. My best spots are hemlock forests. Spending time in these places is the only thing that keeps me from losing it on a regular basis. Its probably pointless to worry, though. I’m sure much worse things are on the horizon.

[@coalbear1]

Only took 2 years for hemlock to disappear in my area. I am in the southern range.

[@Heavilymoderated]

@@coalbear1 yeah. I’ve been watching them die for years now. The big ones are dangerous, now. Widow makers.

[@riverbender9898]

Thank you for all the information you provide.

[@jharbo1]

Hey, Adam, I do not think we need to do anything. You said that the beeches are abundant. Perhaps they are too abundant, and so the more beeches, the more parasites, etc. About the die-off: the strong will survive. We still have elm trees that survived the blight. The life span of a tree is so long, we will not live to see the turn around, and that is sad. When I was in my 20s, the gypsy moths devoured the deciduous trees in the Northeast, so it seemed, and there was a panic, and terrible toxins were unleashed by well meaning humans. Well, what happened was that the trees recovered, and the gypsy moth were naturally reduced. Lots of animals took advantage of the moth populations. Down in Alabama, our pecan trees get nailed in some years by caterpillars...but they bounce back all on their own.

[@shelbydonaldson5862]

Yes it's a natural way of LIFE. I honestly believe the world would be in a better state if we'd simply slow down. Allow for more observation and recording rather than interfering and "fixing." We're on an amazing planet, full of life that pretty much takes care of itself. Trying to heal an issue with a micro lens just may muck things up in the macro level, ya know? We live in a cyclical world of seasons and change. We see new life and also death, times of abundance and times of desolation, always rotating, ever changing... our planet knows what it needs and will adjust accordingly. And when humans interfere, it'll adjust as well. I hope more will start to understand this. There's a beautiful example of the earth tending to itself and the life on it (starting with oak trees dropping acorns) in the book, Braiding Sweetgrass. It's a great read and I'd suggest it to all. And especially to viewers of this channel. 😊

[@lostpony4885]

Have they tried diatomacious earth (clay) sprayed on the trees at whichever point in the lifecycle to prevent new infections? Has been successful for organic gardeners at managing tough to eradicate pests.

[@gillgetter3004]

We have some beautiful and large beeches here in Michigan. I noticed leaves falling early! First the elms, then the ashes, now the beeches tell me it’s not so😢

[@deborahwhit118]

Having trouble with the cherry and maple trees too....some type of blight and canker bacteria on the trunk.

[@boxcamera1]

Well said, thanks for connecting so many dots in just a few minutes! Good work little brother...

[@cherylgawne711]

I’ve been I the woods a couple to few times a day hiking with my rescue pack since I was 11. There are fungi growing I’ve never seen before All of the trees are stressed and struggling All species There are next to no bugs (Gilmour, ON) Also next to no turtles needing to be rescued. Complete lack of wildlife casualties on the road… Rarely see bunnies anymore (only in city) No more birds lining the wires This year in my area the animals didn’t eat the ripened fruits Normally the chippy’s get to all the berries first… they didn’t eat them this year Oh… and in the last month I’ve had more birds hit our windows then all 10 years of house being here Things that make you go hmmmm

[@victorhopper6774]

similiar here in central ohio. noticed the drop off in many insects started about 15 years ago. whatever it is is not getting mosquitos or ants though . bats were common in my barn and are now gone.

[@johnholland723]

So do you have any thoughts on what be causing life to die in your woods?There are plenty of theories to choose from.I believe that is the combination of pollutants that are released continually into our hydrosphere,as Adam points out.The great sadness for me is knowing that a relative few benefit from the destruction,orchestrated murder of our Mother Earth.Yep.I am doing everything within my financial ability to get my bees through winter.There was a comedian who does a routine about the arrogance of humans who think that they can save the planet. It does seem a little silly sometimes the extent of the various recycling efforts becoming mandatory. I mean by comparison to the damage that Monsanto and other poisoners are doing to us All.ya know?

[@anemone104]

Good post, good questions, especially about 'having whatever we want, wherever in the world it comes from'. Over here in the UK we have a long list of plant pathogens that have been brought in with live plants or in roundwood timber imports, the latest being ash dieback disease (Chalara fraxinea/Hymenoscyphus fraxineus).

[@PalmtreeKate]

Very interesting stream today Adam. It just goes to show how devastating human interference can be in our woodlands and forests. Im from the UK and our native ash trees are in dire peril due to Ash dieback, a fungus imported from Asia. Theres nothing can be done to stop it and its just awful.

[@tribalismblindsthembutnoty124]

He never said it was human caused. Since it appeared in the middle of the continent, it might have evolved there. I would go to the source area and see if I can find a related organism that it evolved from. Maybe breeding it back is the answer. I doubt it. I don't even think its worth trying. Life will find a way, and when it doesn't, its probably for the best.

[@dcs4555]

@@tribalismblindsthembutnoty124 agreed

[@zkablam4121]

What you said at the end there about us as humans wanting things and how that affects. Deep and true words.

[@Lakeman3211]

In north central PA, I’m seeing a distinct blight on the Locust in stands that are clustered…the leaves simply turn brown well in advance of the fall turn…I am interested if others are witnessing this.. ?

[@deborahwhit118]

In MI too

[@scottweisel3640]

It’s a leaf miner beetle that is causing it.

[@gwp1ohio]

Im im se Ohio, i have many beech an quite a few huge ones. Problem is though... ash are dead, poplars are dying, pignut hickories are dying, red oak wilt, etc... there is no end or stopping it.

[@reccocon3442]

Enjoying and learning from your excellent knowledge. Thank you for that and your stewardship of our eastern forests.

[@MrPortajohn]

I think you're correct in thinking that it may be more damaging to the ecosystem as a whole and that should be a taken into consideration before spreading these chemicals around all willy-nilly, but I don't think you should highlighting those portions from the SDS without getting into what sorts of concentrations would be necessary for the treatment and how it degrades and how long it lingers in the environment. Those sorts of warning are present in tons of SDS papers. There's a line where every substance turns from medication to poison and that line is called dosage. Just saying.. Again, I do whole heartily agree we should take all those considerations, but I wasn't fan of the highlighting of those points from the SDS. It's a bit dishonest in my view.

[@Nathan-d8d]

Iam in North Alabama I'll be looking at the beech trees .I recently bought this place and was very excited to see my beech trees..., reminded me of Kentucky 😊 thanks for the information!

[@markkirkland3528]

I live in western ny, and its sad to see this happening to the beach trees. Also the largest of them are falling prey. Trees probably 100 - 200 yrs old. I have also observed an increase in the amount of apparent healthy hard maples dying. In my opinion climate pollution has increased the rate of this epidemic. I am not someone who attributes this to global warming. I think with all the man made pollution , the cumulative affect is what we are seeing. Oak ,tulip, hickory, continue to remain strong . I think given a fighting chance nature will adapt. At this point though , she has one hand tied behind her back.

[@AdaptiveApeHybrid]

585 represent

[@caydancebloom]

Thanks for your encouragement to learn the land. You have been one of the people that encouraged me to get out and learn my land better. I discovered so many things, have made so many tinctures…. And I’m only just befonning

[@primesspct2]

I watched the devastation of Dutch elm disease, I was just a kid then, but signs of it were everywhere. By the time I moved to northern Ohio, I would just look for the dead elms to find morels .Then came the Ash borer, decimating the many Ash trees, that were predominant in my nearby woods. The scars are so significant, as to look brutal to the woods. with towering , bare and dead dead stumps occupying vast swatches, of what was once a green and healthy woods. Its truly hard to watch. However nothing in nature is static, it is always changing, we seem to expect things to always be the same, its human nature I suppose. I do believe in the short term it can and will damage the eco systems. But I also believe that in time, if left alone by man; gradually it will restore itself to some kind of balance. Maybe not with exactly the same tress, but with others that can live in harmony with in the ecosystem.. I sure don't think pesticides are the answer! What do they say... "thats like cutting off your nose to spite your face" or :robbing peter to pay paul" . Only God can know what will happen ,if we continually try to fix one problem ,with extreme measures ,that then becomes another. The woods near me are very small, I live in farmland so they are dotted around, an acre wood here a 2 acre wood there, each and everyone surrounded by crops. Where of course, all the farmers , have gone Monsanto, No Till herbicides, pesticides, artifical fertilizer. There are also many oil and gas wells here. Who knows how much these factor into our little acre oasis of woods, where a body might sit down and take a rest, and just look at that bit of beauty, God created. I will keep an eye out for the spread of this disease. I am praying for God to restore the balance, we have so thoughtlessly altered, Some things are our fault and some are, well acts of nature, And bear in mind, that for every tree that falls, those resources it leaves behind are greedily consumed and put to good use by some other tree, plant etc.

[@jacobsukovaty520]

I have a line of elm trees spanning from my house to the end of a nursery so they didn't all go extinct and as ian malcom once said life finds a way and these elm trees behind my house did and yes I live in Ohio

[@sanniepstein4835]

I've heard that elms near sulphur springs thrive, because the sulphur kills the fungus. Yes, all those chemicals are bad. Remember when they said no-till was green, because it would lessen fuel use?

[@WaterN2WineCreations]

Hi Adam, I appreciate and share your concern for our natural environment. I think one of our founding fathers had it right ! Benjamin Franklin once said, “ An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” We often just shrug off such words of wisdom. When you spoke of what some are trying to combat the disease, these are the words that came to my mind. Most often when we mess things up, we only complicate matters trying to correct our mistakes. What can I do? Well I think the best thing I can do is from this day forward live each day with educated understanding and consideration of my choices and their consequences and the ripple effects of those choices.

[@danyoungs4061]

Yikes …. Elm , Ash now beach….

[@amandag525]

Not to mention Chestnut

[@kareninthevalley]

And hemlocks.

[@brotherlittlefoot2216]

As a Horticulturist and Conservationist,I just discovered your channel and very happy to sub to you.

[@scottnyc6572]

Injecting another layer of issues by using toxic chemicals isn’t the answer.Sometimes if not many leaving nature alone is best.

[@mikenelson6939]

Nectria (late stage bbd) tends to effect larger beech trees whereas saplings are effected more by bld

[@denniscleveland669]

Back in the day, there was this thing called “quarantine”. It’s one of those things that didn’t survive the “instant gratification” generations.

[@napakapa1046]

Quarantining is a good idea for most material coming from abroad, I don't think the "me" generation has much to do with globalized economics, which enables extremely fast and cheap shipping worldwide.

[@denniscleveland669]

@@napakapa1046 The “ME” generation is continuing to be a “ME” generation, which means that it’s no longer a generational thing. It seems, that most people no longer have any skin in the environmental game, so it’s not a priority. By the time they are aware, it’s already too late. Take moving firewood, for instance. In many states, it’s already a law, to move firewood very far, but I’ve seen loads of firewood travel from “upstate” New York, to downstate. That’s twice to three times the allowable distance. That’s local. Banana Spiders, fire ants and Asian carp are longer distances. All avoidable. Hell, even Covid could have been prevented. But, it’s the “ME” issue again. “I” can’t wait! Oh well.

[@napakapa1046]

@denniscleveland669 I'm not saying any of that is good or desirable, but the market is dictating a lot of people's actions. Yes, some people are just ignorant, but people also follow the path of least resistance, which often doesn't line up with ecological principles

[@r.guerreiro140]

Quarentine is still a common practice when it comes to exchanging living creatures between countries. But some small ones can just travel with us unnoticed, and the flow of people around the world keeps growing every year.

[@savage22bolt32]

Thank you for reporting facts and not browbeating me with an agenda! PS, I checked out the list of your videos and am now subbed! PPS, My neighbor had a beech taken down and gave me the trunk wood for my stove. Man, that stuff was hard to split!

[@claraisely9397]

Here in my area of NH the beece were seriously damaged by a freeze in the 18 of May 2023. They have struggled to leaf out and look pitiful. The weather geoengineering is destroying trees at an unprecedented rate. They must stop the Chemtrails. Maples are falling for no apparent reason. Will our breeches survive?

[@WigglyLoose]

Chemtrails are fossil fuel exhaust. They burn the fuel and pollute our environment. We've been breathing in poisonous smoke for decades

[@deangullberry2420]

I'm in Michigan and that late frost fucked up my walnut tree, too.

[@tomjensen618]

Does it affect European beech?

[@DrDavidThor]

What we think of as disease is actually the information we asked for by behaving certain ways. For example we keep driving heavy sit-down lawnmowers over a field, compressing the soil--that's us asking the question: what happens if we keep compressing the soil? The answer is dandelions and plantain. Dandelions are not a problem or a disease or a weed, but the information we asked for. They're information AND solution: they decompress the soil. Same with forests. Keep "managing" and logging the forests so that over centuries the forest floor thins from sixty feet to a foot and a half: our question is, what happens when we starve forests? Turns out the answer is: the trees shrink to treelings 5% of their ancient biomass, die after a century instead of a millennium, and invite higher concentrations of nematodes. It's not disease. It's the information we asked for. We invited the nematodes to come and when they arrive at our invitation we complain about them! Folks from all over the galaxy do fly-by's to see the least intelligent sentient species in the galaxy: hairless monkeys who starve their own trees. They stop to take a leak and have a look, then drive off onto the Milky Way asking each other why the monkeys bonzai'd their own forest. Why would monkeys bonzai their own forest? We're just a comedy pitstop for wiser species. As they're zipping up and zipping off, one alien holds up a hundred-foot oak and threatens the other. The second alien goes "what's that?" The first alien goes: "that's a tree." The second alien looks at the little oak for a while and finally says, "that's not a tree." He pulls out a giant four-hundred-foot oak and says: "THAT's a tree." There's the sound of laughter as they accelerate past Saturn and out of our solar system. We're hilarious. We keep extending invitations for information, then when the information-bearers appear, we're hostile to them and try to think of ways to kill them. We don't need one, more, scientist with even one, more, single opinion about North American forests. They're complete idiots, every single one of these pompous fools. Do they really not understand how silly they're going to look when survivors a hundred years from now talk about them? Do they think we're impressed because they're good at Latin nouns? When y'all are done with your experiment of trying to find out what happens to the forests if we starve the trees, can we just leave the forests alone and let them feed themselves? We're done here.

[@jackstrubbe7608]

Quit overbreeding.

[@JohnsJohnson-ns5xm]

At least we agree on one thing. I’m convinced our alien friends are out there but we’re quarantined and nobody wants anything to do with us and they don’t want to let us out. We are the invasive species.

[@doloresreynolds8145]

Cute idea, though even completely healthy oaks will not grow to 400 feet on THIS planet.

[@DrDavidThor]

Yes, we intelligent apes are very careful to insist on the limits. Biologists don't even need to be enlisted to enforce these boundaries, as non-biologists are eager to tell each other what can't possibly happen. There's a world of reference in your capitalized "this," Dolores, she of the many sorrows. This planet of radically impoverished forest floors is only the start. This planet of apes without imagination might be another. This planet of apes for whom the elders who stood here just a few centuries ago are now the oubliette of possibility. Now everyone's an expert and will tell the elders how tall they couldn't stand. This this this. This planet where a comment three days ago from a logger is pinned high for status and more recent comments are slid to the bottom. Adam himself maintaining magisterial pomp and not intervening here amongst the lessers. He makes a good show of pretending to care about trees. Those who have chopped the trees with their axes are now are experts because they sing to a choir of people utterly willing to chop the trees with their minds. I'll do you one better, Dolores of the multiple sorrows (excuse my Spanish). Not only can oaks on "this" planet not grow to 400 feet, they cannot grow at all. A tree is a thing in a forest. There are no forests. Therefore there are no trees. Therefore no oaks. This planet, this planet: a planet with just such a syllogism. This, therefore that. It's how we apes wanted it, hunkering away from the shadows of the slain elders. If I were to find the great elders, I would never tell anyone on "this" planet. I'm a wealth of cute ideas. On Planet This, nothing amazing to look at. Keep moving. @@doloresreynolds8145

[@DrDavidThor]

dude, she might not have gotten the mutiple-sorrows reference

[@chefmichaelt]

Thank you.

[@vipahman]

I've lost 3 beech trees to BLD on my lot in 2022. I've cut one down that was about 20 years old and 60 ft tall with a 9" diameter trunk. The other two are 50+ year old trees that reach the canopy about 80-100; tall. The other beech trees are under observation. I will update this comment over the years.

[@KatySwiere]

Thank you as always for the thoughtful information on the state of our forests!

[@roostershooter76]

Does it surprise anyone that these type of diseases sprout up in the Pennsylvania, SW New York, and Connecticut area of the country? After all, Lymes disease started in the same way, along with numerous other diseases that affect humans, plants, and animals. What exactly is located in Pennsylvania that would cause this to be concentrated in this area? Makes you think ... doesn't it?

[@acwright]

Delivery hubs, maybe.

[@terryallaway5881]

A lot of people, moving things around. This one came from Japan, via the Great Lakes, a huge transportation corridor. Lyme is endemic, but more common now due to human impact on the land.

[@bdickinson6751]

John Fetterman

[@acwright]

@@bdickinson6751 lol

[@katiekane5247]

The deployment of geoengineering elements is contributing to the overall degradation of our forests. Can you imagine what it's doing to us ?

[@zworm2]

I read about this recently a grieved. Beech is one of my favorite trees in the forest. Beautiful grey bark and hold its leaves, golden brown, when most others have fallen Perhaps a more ecologically friendly potion can be found to help? Ivermectin perhaps? Applied directly into the trees circulatory system? Such an effective anthelminthic with lingering effect.

[@MyName-zd9pe]

Many of my trees, different types, have orange spots on the leaves, then the leaves have holes, black spots on the fruit also less fruit is growing, and dry/brittle branches. I've tried putting clean ashes on the soil around the trees, which was said to fix any tree, nope. Very worried about my pear, plum, walnut, berry, trees. I'm thinking it's all the Chemtrails being spread daily. God help us all, respect from Kentucky.🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸

[@adognamedboo9474]

The entire time Adam was speaking about this disease in beech tree's all I kept thinking is chemtrails!! They certainly are killing the tree's around here in Ohio. God have mercy on us all. 🙏🕊

[@WigglyLoose]

What if the chemtrails aren't super secret chemicals that are killing trees but are instead normal jet fuel exhaust, which is also killing trees? We need to stop burning fossil fuels into the environment and end the chemtrail menace.

[@MyName-zd9pe]

@@adognamedboo9474 Same here, that's why I mentioned the Chemtrails. Tyrannical governments have an agenda here.

[@adognamedboo9474]

​@@MyName-zd9pe I agree with you 100%! Years of spraying us like bugs is not only affecting tree's I'm afraid. The tree's are showing the stress, we started losing leaves in August. Unheard of!

[@chelwesch68]

Thank you Adam.

[@rumplednutskin4707]

Stratospheric aerosol injections

[@WigglyLoose]

The injections are made up of the same chemicals inside gasoline and jet fuel. It's the most toxic poison and we burn more every day

[@chrismoney1468]

Thank you.

[@WigglyLoose]

@@adognamedboo9474 what's in them, then? We've been breathing in toxic smoke for years

[@adognamedboo9474]

​@@WigglyLooseIt's easy to research and find out, but I will tell you. Aluminum, Barium, and Strontium in the form of oxalates and sulphates. Along with other heavy metals. I will leave it to you to research geo- engineering further. Look Up!

[@christinekinn6178]

Adam, always appreciate your thorough explanations from an ecological perspective

[@blakechero378]

This is incredibly sad. My favorite trees are without a doubt the beech. Some of my favorite individual trees are beech that I see one my walks in the local forest, so I hope that something can be done without harming the surrounding wildlife.

[@bikerbrandon1]

What about putting black walnut juice mixed with water around the bases of the trees. I know it can kill regular worms I wonder if it has the same effect on those?

[@ianhorsham7751]

Thanks Adam. I also share your concerns about that cure. I sometimes think we are far too arrogant as a species and sometimes nature has the answer already. Sometimes it is hard to swallow but in the end life continues whatever form it takes.

[@geoffreyvanpelt6147]

Some leaders in the Permaculture Design philosophy say that "The problem is the solution." It may be that there is an insect or some other creature that likes to eat those nematodes. Or companion planting may help.

[@stevedbertram]

I live in central Illinois and Beech trees are basically non-existent here. I wonder if I started planting them here if they'd be physically distant enough from existing stands to avoid getting infected.

[@Brocephus1776]

Adam nailed it. Wanting everything without expecting repercussions

[@terryrogers-kulick9499]

Adam, What a great informative video including all types many different types of trees and fungi. Best wishes to many more!

[@jeremiahcorbett2944]

Love your message my man. Well said and keep it up.