A Response the Ruddiman

I think has an interesting theory. I feel that the use of ancient farming techniques probably had an impact on the levels of greenhouse gases, but I don't think it was as significant as he states, since the human population wasn't as large as it is today. I do agree with Ruddiman's argument that deforestation could have played an important role in the increase in greenhouse gases. In Scotland ,the Highlands used to be covered in forests thousands of years ago which at one point was destroyed mainly by new farming techniques and livestock grazing. Now the Highlands are mostly covered in grass and shrubs. If places like this hadn't been deforested there might not have been as much of a change in the levels of greenhouse gases back then.