On a plot of land that was becoming desertified, he cut down every other olive tree - thinking he was doing the right thing...
Imagine a large, arid plot of land planted with olive trees spaced 8 meters apart. Between the trees, there's nothing but bare earth, plowed every year to prevent weeds from competing with the olive trees. And you might think, if I cut down every other tree, perhaps things would be better? … because there would be less competition between the olive trees for water and nutrients.
The farm worker in charge of the plot then took his chainsaw and cut down dozens of olive trees. As a result, this plot is nearing desertification.
This is a true story!
It reflects a widespread belief in the agricultural world: that plants compete with each other, and therefore those that do not generate income should be eliminated.
But if we observe nature, we realize that it abhors a vacuum; nature tends towards abundance. Where man seeks simplification through monoculture, nature loves complexity, creating infinite diversity.
The combination of density and diversity creates a rich and fertile soil.
A change of belief is needed in our approach to the world - not just in agriculture.
Human society is built on the notion of competition. Yet nature is a cooperative society, in which each individual plays its part. Humans also have a role to play, but not the one they imagine...
A very good read on the subject of cooperation between plants and their succession over time: Life in Syntropy by Dayana Andrade and Felipe Pasini, published by Terre Vivante.
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