>>2528912>>2529004That is so beautiful. Holy smokes.
I think there were forests on the Eurasian Steppe that have been slash-and-burned into grassland since the bronze age. I wonder if there's any way to quantify their previous extent.
>>2532990Methinks nature ought to be beautiful and accessible so that we can appreciate and conserve it. Obviously this does not entail destroying an ecosystem. But we should make the land produce the most trophic mass, biodiversity, and beauty while minimizing erosion and negative consequences for other ecosystems. I'm absolutely in favor of introducing deer, hogs, coyotes, rabbits, fish and other "invasive" life because they're aesthetic and allow for the creation of beautiful ecosystems.
>>2532855I think the environmental destruction from pastoralism and floodplain agriculture is far less destructive than s 0 y / corn monoculture and the like. Methinks dry/upland forest should be managed to be a mixed grassland with lots of trees, for livestock and logging. While the floodplains should be used for fruit/nut trees, vegetables, grain crops, and ponds for ducks/fish/shrimp.
I ain't too worried about climate change tho. Unsustainable ag practices, plastic pollution, and greenhouse gases will undo the enormous systems of today long before they cause the extinction of humanity. We'll bounce back after like a 200-year dark age - Which is not even really "dark", because "dark ages" are just periods of time when humanity rebuilds its genetic fortitude through barbaric war, which allows the strong, brave, and clever to once again dominate.
