Part 3/9:
However, upon returning in the 1980s, they observed a troubling trend: the forest was dying. Large, old pines, which they affectionately refer to as "granny pines," stood as reminders of a majestic past, devoid of the young trees needed to ensure the forest’s future. An exploding deer population was consuming the seedlings, creating a heartbreaking generation gap that threatened the very soul of the forest.