[Updated on 15 Sept '20 to insert a photo, transcription and translation of Schlich's memorial stone and again on 18 Sept with updates concerning information on Wikipedia.]
Forestry Science
Earlier this month I met up with a former colleague, who gave me a guided tour of Bagley Wood, entering it from his back garden. In millennia gone by it was part of a continuous stretch of forestry that incorporated what we now call Wytham Woods. Nowadays both are conserved for research purposes and have University connections: Bagley Wood has for centuries been owned by St John’s College, whilst Wytham Woods was bequeathed to the University in the early 1940s.
This has helped them retain evidence of their historic ancestry, which is important as environmental concerns continue to grow. In Bagley, I was shown oak trees of various ages and how they are in close alignment with the paths; the ancient ones, many hundreds of years old with their wide trunks, tend to have collapsed, losing their original shape. Furthermore, such woods are being systematically mapped in detail, revealing the extent of ancient woodland, for instance a study site map for Wytham Woods.
As we trundled along, we then came across a memorial stone in Latin, dedicated to Wilhelm Schlich (1840-1925), who decades later is described as the founder of forestry science.
Latin transcription:
In Memoriam Gulielmi Schlich MDCCCXL – MCMXXV Scholae Silviculturae apud Oxoniensis fundatoris et in commemorationem itineris sui ponendae adfuerunt publicis Germaniae silvarum curatoribus viri delecti tum primum publice in Britanniam missi. Quarto die mensis Aprilis anno MCML.
My attempt at translation (suggested improvements welcome, else caveat lector!)
In Memory of William Schlich (1840 – 1925), the Founder of the School of Silviculture (Forestry) at Oxford and in commemoration of his journey that led to its establishment; he was initially selected from German forest wardens to enter British service. [Erected] 4th April 1950.
By applying scientific methods to the cultivation, management, preservation and utilisation of forests, he has influenced generations of forestry specialists and in turn had a major impact on our landscapes today. It is probably in large part thanks to him that visitors are able to enjoy the conservation woods in this locality; I especially value their presence as many of my ideas have surface in my wanderings through Wytham Woods.
Yet Schlich’s family did not have any background in forestry; it was an interest he developed himself whilst at university. Having initially studied mathematics and mechanical engineering, he was inspired to pursue forestry studies by Gustav Heyer, who lectured in the subject. Schlich’s professional career subsequently flourished in the service of the British Imperial Indian Forestry Service.
In basic terms, the impetus came from the need to support the economic prosperity of a colonial power with the management and supply of timber stocks. However, in conducting his work, he developed his appreciation of sustainability and a sense of how forests contribute to general well-being. It is evident in his magnum opus, the five-volume Manual of Forestry: in Volume 1, concerning forest policy, Schlich starts his introduction with a definition of a ‘forest’, taking account of both natural ‘primeval’ forests and cultivated ‘economic’ forests. His discussion of the utility of forests (Part 1, Chapter 1) is likewise broad, partitioning it into ‘direct utility’ and ‘indirect utility’; the former treating economic necessity, the latter embracing broader environmental considerations such as temperature and moisture together with factors of well-being (‘hygiene, aesthetics and ethics’).
Schlich recognizes that forests generally create moister climes than exposed land, “On the whole, there can be no doubt that forests preserve humidity to a considerable extent”, more so at altitude, though they also consume water (p.16). Schlich then goes on to describe mechanical effect of forests, how the water is retained by forests:
Of the rain falling over a forest, close on one-fourth is intercepted by the crowns of the trees, and the other ¾ fall upon a layer of humus which possesses a great capacity of absorbing water and of retaining it for a time.
Some of that water evaporates from the soil covering, but the greater part penetrates into the soil; some of it is taken up by the roots, and the balance becomes available for the feeding of springs. In this manner well-preserved forests have a decided effect upon the sustained flow of springs.
He goes on to relate that the absorption of water by forests reduces the flood level. He describes many other health benefits of forests, particularly their release of oxygen into the air and the general absence of pollution, making them beneficial for visitors.
Whilst Schlich describes some of the general effects from the absorption of water in relation to the physical environment and human well-being, he does not (from my cursory reading) appear to say anything about the water itself, its chemical composition, how this might change during the lifecycle, and what this means for the planet and humanity. Generally speaking, water is treated as a collective mass, an aggregate resource. For a deeper exploration, we need another voice …
Forests and Water
In 1885, the year Schlich moved to England to take up the pioneering post of Professor of Forestry at the Royal Indian Engineering College, there was to emerge someone else who was to take a deep interest in forests, Viktor Schauberger. He was born near Linz in Upper Austria into a family that had been foresters for many generations, their motto being Fidus in Silvis Silentibus “Faithful to the Silent Forests” – reflecting a deep awareness of Nature’s harmony, where there is sound, but not noise.
Thus Schauberger became absorbed in forestry from a very early age. From early childhood he developed an acute sensitivity to the silvan environment, immersing himself in its embrace, observing and reflecting, especially on water, for hours at a time, heeding well his mother’s advice,
If occasionally life is really hard, and you don't know where to turn, go to a stream and listen to its music. Then everything will be alright again.[Olof Alexandersson trans.]
Schauberger was encouraged by his parents to pursue higher education studies, but he refused after seeing how his elder siblings had lost much of their intuition; in his view, their minds had become perverted by that formal academic environment. Instead he trained as a forest warden.
By observing first hand and developing his intuition, he saw how Nature works in balance, especially in the properties of water and its relationship to the forests. He came to understand how nutrients are ingested in water cycles – when rainfall sinks deep into the ground it absorbs important minerals vital for life before it rises up again, emerging in springs or otherwise re-entering circulation. This he called the full water cycle. On the other hand, with deforestation, the soil bakes and cannot absorb the water, so it runs off, not only leading to flooding, but failing to absorb the minerals. To Schauberger such water was seriously depleted, it lacked the nutrients of life.
Based on his understanding of the energetic properties of water, particularly how this is affected by temperature variations, centred around 4 degrees C (water at rest, where energy is greatest), he was able to design and engineer a log flume that led to commissions for other flumes in several countries, one of which was filmed in a 1930 documentary.
His successes earned him the nickname, the 'water magician' and his reputation grew. However, whilst this provided funding for valuable research, unfortunately, as he ruefully reflected, he had successfully contributed to deforestation. From as early as the 1920s, he could clearly foresee the environmental crises that we are experiencing today, moving him to co-found Grüne Front (Green Front), the first environmental movement in Austria, the precursor to the Pythagoras Kepler System.
Schauberger went on to develop many theories and wrote copiously on a vast array of topics, going beyond water cycles and filtration to jet propulsion, especially utilising his understanding of balancing forces and spiral vortices. He also was very ‘hands on’, producing many working prototypes, but many of these were appropriated by competing (and often unscrupulous) interests. As to his written output, he only produced materials in German and using his own unconventional terminology with little interest in translation to contemporary scientific terminology. It’s not surprising then that, unlike Schlich, you won’t hear about Schauberger in lectures or be able to read his work in university libraries. In fact, he only published one fairly small book, which had the discouraging title, Unsere sinnlose Arbeit (later released in English as ‘Our Senseless Toil’).
Fortunately, there are a number of publications that describe his ideas (with greater optimism); much has been translated into English, for which we are indebted especially to Olof Alexandersson and Callum Coats, who spent many years with the Schauberger family, reading, digesting, understanding and translating many of his documents.
Coats wrote a succinct introduction for Nexus Magazine in three parts, entitled, Who was Viktor Schauberger? (1996). Coats has also authored more substantial works, including perhaps the most comprehensive guide, Living Energies. To gain a taste, you can see some of his lectures on YouTube. One series was recorded on film in 1985, as Sacred Living Geometry - The Enlightened Environmental Theories of Viktor Schauberger - part 1 and part 2. More recently, he presented at the 2008 Nexus conference.
Legacies
Today the name of Sir Wilhelm Schlich is very much associated with the advancement of modern forestry practices; he is recognised as a pivotal figure, not only in British forestry, but across the world as a result of Britain’s historical colonial connections. This is manifest in the Sir William Schlich Memorial Award and the Schlich Memorial Prize.
Meanwhile, Viktor Schauberger remains a fringe figure. It's evident in his treatment on Wikipedia: he is at least listed in the Forester page, but the his own entry is insubstantial, whilst the associated Talk page is huge and contains much ridicule. I don't think the handling of his reputation would have disturbed Schauberger for he knew the forests deeply and all that sustained them. But he was concerned about humanity's treatment of the natural world. It led him to make a prediction that is eerily prescient: unless we learn how to work in sympathy with Nature and support its proper functioning rather that going against it to exploit our world, we will surely destroy ourselves.
In his work on water cycles, at least, Schauberger appears to be far more in the consciousness of environmentalists: compare a Google search for the following (just remove the [] brackets): ["water cycle" schlich] and ["water cycle" schauberger]. You will find hardly any matches for Schlich, but many for Schauberger – many are commentaries by environmentalists.
And there is further recognition from engineers and scientists from a range of discplines, some working on flood management, others on more speculative areas. This is well summarised in a film that has the same title as Schauberger’s, motto “Comprehend and copy nature”.
A few years ago whilst paying a visit to Wytham Village Stores I came across a group of three postgrads. I got chatting with one of them and asked about his research. He explained that he was involved in flood alleviation in the Oxford area, specifically the bypass channel to reduce the load on the flood plains.
I asked him whether he had visited Wytham Woods and he confessed he wasn’t really interested in them! His response confirms my feeling that more people would really benefit from learning about the work of both Schlich and Schauberger.
