As I read The Overstory by Richard Powers, I realized that we can learn different lessons from this text. Different passages in this text triggers a lot of questions relating to different issues. First, I realized that Powers’ work is primarily based on the relationship between human and nature. His characters are focusing on preserving the environment especially trees, but this is a significant struggle. That is, the more they struggle to protect trees, the more they realize that their efforts are hindered by logging and construction companies. On the one hand, characters such as Nick Hoel, Olivia, Mimi Ma, and Douglas believe that trees are necessary to sustain the health of the entire planet. For isntance, trees help to regulate the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. On the other hand, every year many trees are cut down, and this is a serious threat to the environment.
Further, one of the major problem is that deforestation is taking place rapidly, and people are still in the age of woods where many things are made from trees. For example, In BC alone, at least two million log trucks are taken out annually(183). More confusing is the fact that people think that this problem can be solved by planting many seedlings every year. However, this is does not seem a viable solution because every time a seedling is planted, companies raises the annual allowable cut. Therefore, this implies that the more trees are planted, the higher the number of trees that will be cut down every year, and deforestation will remain a big challenge. To explain this perspective, Powers has used the metaphor, “You’re putting in babies so they can kill grandfathers(183)”. These words show that the perspective that planiting more trees is a sustainable solution to environmental degradation is limited. They also resonate to current environmental challenges caused by climate change.
The planet is experiencing problems such as increase in global temperatures, droughts, and death of animal and plant species. Unfortunately, these problems are caused by human beings as they strive to meet their industrial needs. More trees are cut down to create more space for buildings, and they are celebrating this achievement. On this note, it is problematic trying to figure out how good citizens will receive credit for protecting the environment. Their efforts are limited by companies that raises the number of trees that can be cut annually when they realize that citizens are planting more seedlings.