An Integral Ecology of Sudden Oak Death: Multiple Perspectives of a Forest Pathology

The oak woodlands of central and northern California have seen a rapid decline of native oak trees in the last ten years attributed to Sudden Oak Death (SOD). P. ramorum has been isolated as the forest pathogen focusing the academic and public research agenda. Integral Ecology offers a systematic approach as a means of balancing multiple perspectives. Science is seldom value free and offers more then one conclusion. Alternatively Sudden Oak Death is a response to a larger set of variables including shifting climate, general forest decline and the ongoing impact from human activities. For an integral ecology all parties may be partially correct--the difference is in perspective. The interpretation of Sudden Oak Death as P. ramorum encourages institutions to combat the disease using technology and research as its primary tool. SOD as forest decline offers a choice to either deny our role in these changes or to learn and adapt with it. In this capacity, nature is the teacher and we are the students.