> Kiidk'yaas (meaning "ancient tree" in the Haida language[1]), also known as the Golden Spruce, was a Sitka Spruce tree (Picea sitchensis 'Aurea') that grew on the banks of the Yakoun River on the Haida Gwaii archipelago, in British Columbia Canada. It had a rare genetic mutation that caused its needles to be golden in colour (rather than the usual green). Kiidk'yaas was considered sacred by the Haida people

> Kiidk'yaas was felled in January 1997 by Grant Hadwin as an act of protest against the logging industry.

That makes zero sense. He killed an awesome, special tree to protest killing of trees. What a loser.

For example, all those interesting formations and places that disappeared 1000 years ago - so we've never seen those in the first place - are those also losses?

By that logic, wouldn't be any form of natural change be huge tragedy, an endless sequence of losses?

I, for one, know nothing of this tree other than what I have seen just now. It's entirely possible that a trained arborist (which most cities and counties employ) looked at the tree and decided it needed to be taken down or coppiced. In fact I would argue that it's much more likely that happened than anything else.

I'm actually a little disappointed that the article jumps to weird conclusions in an attempt to be insightful.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methuselah_(tree)

You mean "the oldest tree now" is always alive.

To do any damage at any speed you'd notice would be a self-correcting problem as whoever tried it would be destroyed. It's definitely not a problem you're going to see within your lifetime.

> Pebble still would have to apply for permits before building a mine in Bristol Bay. Two public hearings will be held in Alaska on the topic this week. And the public has until October 17 to comment on Pruitt's proposed policy reversal before it could be finalized.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/18/goblin-valley-boy-...

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=that+wanaka+tree&tbm=isch

Amazing.