According to a recent study done by the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, these outbreaks should not be regarded as a crisis: “There is no evidence to support the idea that current levels of bark beetle or defoliator activity in Colorado’s lodgepole pine and spruce-fir forests are unnaturally high” and that “Historic photos and tree-ring evidence also document extensive insect outbreaks prior to the 20th century.”

Furthermore, there are more factors than just temperature which cause outbreaks of pine beetles. According to Dave Thom, a natural resources specialist with the Black Hills National Forest, the density of the forest is a major contributor,

“As the trees get more dense, they are less able to resist bark-beetle infestations. When you take increasingly dense trees and add the drought, the intersection causes weakened trees that are more susceptible to beetle attack. That phenomenon can happen regardless of a few degrees of change in climate, measured on a global scale.”

These experts reveal that current outbreaks are neither unusual nor preventable by a few degrees of global cooling.”

Again- if you have evidence linking man’s contributions of CO2 to pine beetle infestations- then present it

[[I’m done..I’ve spent more enjoyable moments on my front porch discussing things with Jehovah’s Witnesses..]]

mmm Hmmm- Jusy can’t help yourself eh? Gotta get those ‘last few digs’ in eh? Whatever- I didn’t htink you’d provide evidnce linking man’s production of CO2 to ANYTHING you’ve claimed yet- just more posturing and unsupported alarmist claims-

[[I’m done..]]

Oh darn, and I was just about to poison the tea

The science is settled. The debate is over. That train has left the station. All scientists agree.

Finally, we’re all on the same page. The glorious worker’s paradise awaits us, each worker equal to every other worker, except, of course, some workers will be more equal than others. But, that’s all right. The workers at the top are continually looking out for us, and they deserve to be a bit more equal. I can hardly wait to get me some of that equality.

I know, I know..I said I was done..I’m a sucker for punishment but I had to let you know that I did indeed go to the site which was dismissive of the pine beetle problem being connected to global warming and discovered this on the page..which you conveniently ignored of course.

Dave, Colorado writes:
The article and the many of the comments that follow are not aware of how wide spread and devastating this problem is. The article fails to mention that the mountain pine beetle was restricted to British Columbia in Canada and that the population and spread was kept in check by prolong periods of extreme cold each winter. A documented warming trend has allowed the the beetle to spread. It is a trend which some are choosing to ignore like people who choose to live on a flat earth.

carry on…

I’m done..I’ve spent more enjoyable moments on my front porch discussing things with Jehovah’s Witnesses..As far as references, I would once again point you to the link about the CO2 ..it really is worth it..I know you think you know what you are talking about but this video might make you think again..hope springeth eternal in the human breast…may the force be with you.

http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm09/lectures/lecture_videos/A23A.shtml