The health of forests is closely linked to our own health. This is an article that I wrote for the spring issue of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy magazine Journeys. I hope it encourages you to slow down, enjoy the beauty of the forests near you, and to invest your time, energy, and resources to help protect them.
![hemlocks](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/04c29b_2c3919944c7a44b2a3f3f2460e8a7b90~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_76,h_57,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/04c29b_2c3919944c7a44b2a3f3f2460e8a7b90~mv2.jpg)
Hemlock trees are a vanishing site in the southern Appalachians (photo by Mark Ellison)