Scientists have found that 
 
recent widespread losses 
 
of delicate aspen trees 
 
across the western part 
 
of the United States due 
 
to a mysterious syndrome 
 
called 
 
“sudden aspen decline,” 
 
have led to disruptions 
 
in the surrounding 
 
ecosystems. 
 
Lead researcher 
 
Dr. Erin Lehmer of 
 
Fort Lewis College 
 
in Colorado, USA 
 
studied wildlife in 
 
regions where the aspen 
 
trees were healthy versus 
 
areas affected by die offs. 
 
With the diminished forests 
 
unable to support 
 
as much diversity, 
 
certain animals such as 
 
deer mice have become 
 
more prevalent. 
 
This in turn has increased 
 
the spread of 
 
the sin nombre virus 
 
that these animals carry. 
 
Sin nobre virus is sadly 
 
lethal to about one-third 
 
of the humans who fall ill 
 
by unknowingly inhaling 
 
fumes from infected 
 
mice urine or saliva. 
 
According to Dr. Lehmer, 
 
the trees' decline 
 
has likely been caused
 
by climate change, 
 
with a severe drought 
 
in the past two decades 
 
that could be 
 
making the forests 
 
more susceptible to
 
various types of disease. 
 
Our appreciation, 
 
Dr. Lehmer and colleagues 
 
for highlighting 
 
the interdependence 
 
of environmental 
 
and human health 
 
through this worrying case. 
 
May such research 
 
help us to make better choices 
 
to restore the health 
 
of all plants and animals 
 
on our planet. 
 
During an August 2008 
 
videoconference 
 
in Canada, 
 
Supreme Master Ching Hai 
 
responded with concern 
 
and constructive insight 
 
to another forest decline 
 
situation in Canada 
 
that was also linked 
 
to climate change.
 
Supreme Master Ching Hai: My goodness! 
 
We are trying hard 
 
to do something, 
 
and nature itself is doing 
 
something else also. 
 
Looks like we keep 
 
racing forever. 
 
So the only thing is 
 
we have to be morally fit,
 
and have to be virtuous. 
 
Otherwise, 
 
there's no getting away 
 
from the retribution
 
for whatever we do, 
 
as you can see that. 
 
If the governments 
 
already know the 
 
problem with the forest, 
 
then I'm sure they will 
 
mobilize many forces 
 
in the population or
 
in a governmental force, 
 
to plant some more trees. 
 
Of course, 
 
plant trees is good, 
 
but I don't know if 
 
we have enough time 
 
to keep planting trees. 
The only refuge 
 
would be the virtues, 
 
the noble way of living 
 
that we have to adhere to 
 
Heaven's standard of life. 
 
Otherwise, 
 
no matter what solution, 
 
there will be some other 
 
consequences coming. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Everywhere there's 
 
something that happens, 
 
then we cannot compete 
 
with nature forever, 
 
except we are listening 
 
to her call 
 
to live in harmony 
 
with all beings. 
 
To live and let live, 
 
be vegetarian 
 
and be green. 
 
That's the utmost solution. 
 
That's the most 
 
important solution 
 
that we must take. 
 
And planting trees 
 
and all that is secondary. 
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/68478/title/Aspens_bust,_diseased_mice_boom  
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2011/01/07/Tree-die-off-presents-human-health-risk/UPI-21551294448099/