[Greyhame]

Another thread brought a thought to mind that I've had while reading LOTR, being this: Was JRRT a conservationist?

I mean, his portrayal of Nature (and the spirits that comprise it) is astonishing in its warmth and depth. He goes to a lot of trouble explaining the plight of the trees, making clear the relationships between Nature and Man (and dwarf, elf, orc, etc...)

I have heard that his vision of Mordor was influenced by his coming of age in industrial Birmingham, contrasted sharply by the lush, pastoral setting of the Shire (possibly influenced by his childhood in the countryside). It would seem that the virtual demonization of what he viewed as industrial excesses supports the idea that Tolkien was a staunch conservationist (as the modern environmental movement currently espoused by the Green Party hadn't quite come to fruition yet).

For me, it is yet another rich layer of meaning in LOTR. What does everyone else think?