We have seen enough of the Amazon rainforest wild fires to understand this is a world were humans are becoming detached from nature in their pursue of economical interests. Contrary to this, there is the work of film-maker and naturalist Craig Foster that is highlighted in Netflix documentary "My Octopus Teacher" filmed in the kelp forests of Cape Town. Regardless all the comments on Internet about the eroticism of the "love story" between Foster and an octopus, I have found the film very interesting, I enjoyed the story and the photography a lot.
Regarding this blog, I see an analogy between the (ground) forests and the kelp forests, though sometimes the difference in scale from one environment to the other may be huge. Can we say they belong to each other? Ideally yes, if we consider that catastrophic events during the Ice Age have uprooted conifers growing two miles above sea level in the Himalayas and brought them to a deep sea grave, and eventually, floods carry trees from the low lands to the sea as well.
As another conceptual parallel, I have the habit of walking among trees while smelling, touching them. It feels like immersing in the landscape. And Foster is shown swimming surrounded by kelps, explaining there is no way he would wear a wetsuit. He has to feel this environment in his body, despite the cold. What a direct example of a man attached to nature!
For a definition of a kelp forest, I take this paragraph from the USA National Ocean Service:
"Kelp forests can be seen along much of the west coast of North America. Kelp are large brown algae that live in cool, relatively shallow waters close to the shore. They grow in dense groupings much like a forest on land. These underwater towers of kelp provide food and shelter for thousands of fish, invertebrates, and marine mammal species.
Kelp forests harbor a greater variety and higher diversity of plants and animals than almost any other ocean community. Many organisms use the thick blades as a safe shelter for their young from predators or even rough storms.
Among the many mammals and birds that use kelp forests for protection or feeding are seals, sea lions, whales, sea otters, gulls, terns, snowy egrets, great blue herons, cormorants, and shore birds.
These dense canopies of algae generally occur in cold, nutrient-rich waters. Because of their dependency upon light for photosynthesis, kelp forests form in shallow open waters and are rarely found deeper than 49-131 feet".
I am sharing here the beauty of these kelp forests, all pictures are screen shots of My Octopus Teacher from my computer. Foster collaborated on shooting the sequence with his friend, Blue Planet 2 cameraman Roger Horrocks. Do not reproduce without my permission.
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