Nature, history and culture intertwined in silver firs
Tuscan Silver Fir Forest
You can't squeeze water from a stone, but for religious Italians in the 1200s Silver Fir trees were seen as a miracle, sprouting from harsh rocky ground.
In Tuscany, Silver Firs have thrived despite intervention from countless civilizations and heavy agriculture. The trees surround some of the most significant church sites and have a link to historical figures including Galileo, Leonardo da Vinci and Napoleon. For centuries, the trees were cited as a religious wonder and were an inherent part of Italian religious history.
Now we know these trees tap into water reserves in underground caves, and can adapt to a variety of environments.
Fabrizio D'Aprile, Research Fellow with the Monash University School of Geography and Environmental Science, said there is a deeper reservoir of knowledge to be tapped into and much to learn from this resilient species.
His research, undertaken as part of his PhD, is looking at how climate change affects the growth and health of Tuscan Silver Fir forests.
“Silver Firs are a critical indicator of climate change. For centuries they have survived against invasions, land clearing, grazing and urban development, thanks to a string of rulers who have also safeguarded and managed the forest," said Mr D’Aprile.
“But as rainfall and temperature distribution change it is not just the underground water table that shrinks. Now trees are beginning to show unprecedented symptoms which limit the growth, spread and health of silver firs.
“Our research confirms high incidence of ‘rot butt’ - a severe and complex disease affecting up to 70 per cent of the forest. We also found high levels of aluminium in the soil but more needs to be done to ensure this unique landscape can survive.”
Mr D'Aprile presented his findings at the prestigious European GeoSciences Union (EGU) annual convention in April 2011. The conference attracts more than 10,000 researchers, scientists and academics worldwide.
His message is simple: “You cannot change climate, but you can change how you manage resources. If we ignore this and continue to use the land in the same way as we did before, we will lose our natural resources and our cultural identity tied to it.”
The research is so compelling that Mr D’Aprile has been invited back in 2012 to present further developments.
“Monash is the first Australian university to lead these sessions at such a prestigious world event, but we need more funding to ensure we can continue to lead the way on this unique research.”