Is it possible to change our values and attitudes? Obviously, our thrust for wealth and affluence, greed, is driving our current value system within our western culture. In fact, based on the American example, most developing countries are being driven today by similar values. One cannot imagine what the demand for resources from our natural world will be like in 2050, with a world population of 10 BILLION people.
Unless and until we are willing to comprehend and accept the problem before us, we are destine to destroy our human species. Does this sound at all like the biblical Book of Revelations? Why fix a problem that does not exist or, why not live the good life and simply prepare for the end?
I am an optimist, and believe we have the intelligences to understand the human impacts that have been so devastating to Mother Earth and provide appropriate adjustments that can extent our life systems on this planet. Certainly, nothing will change if we continue to ignore the problems and live for tomorrow only. The obvious first step is the articulation and acceptance of the problem. It may be obvious but, certainly not an easy thing to do. Our government and corporate institutions will fight long and hard to prevent the acceptance of the problem. In just the last year and a half, we have seen a major elimination of regulations designed to protect our natural world,by the administration,through the signing of Executive Orders. This effort is intended to enhance corporate profit margins and, using executive orders eliminates the opportunity for public discussion and involvement. In our Egalitarian Democratic system of government, change occurs only by the insistence of knowledgeable voting public. Instead of being lead by our elected representatives, we must provide the leadership for these elected officials to follow. Your involvement in the election process is critical and, I believe it is our younger voters that understand these environmental issues best and must provide the leadership required.
In the science of forestry, I believe abandoning the concept of growing trees as a crop is step one. We are attempting to manage plants that have a life expectancy of several times more than a human being and plants that supply many of the vital elements required for human existence. Yes, forestry is far more complex then simply planting, growing and harvesting trees. Forests, themselves, are vital resources and far more valuable then all the products we can take from the forests! After discarding this archaic concept that connect forestry and agriculture, we must re-define the goal of forest management. Maintaining and reproducing communities of diverse naturally occurring trees must drive our management objectives!
Unless and until we are willing to comprehend and accept the problem before us, we are destine to destroy our human species. Does this sound at all like the biblical Book of Revelations? Why fix a problem that does not exist or, why not live the good life and simply prepare for the end?
I am an optimist, and believe we have the intelligences to understand the human impacts that have been so devastating to Mother Earth and provide appropriate adjustments that can extent our life systems on this planet. Certainly, nothing will change if we continue to ignore the problems and live for tomorrow only. The obvious first step is the articulation and acceptance of the problem. It may be obvious but, certainly not an easy thing to do. Our government and corporate institutions will fight long and hard to prevent the acceptance of the problem. In just the last year and a half, we have seen a major elimination of regulations designed to protect our natural world,by the administration,through the signing of Executive Orders. This effort is intended to enhance corporate profit margins and, using executive orders eliminates the opportunity for public discussion and involvement. In our Egalitarian Democratic system of government, change occurs only by the insistence of knowledgeable voting public. Instead of being lead by our elected representatives, we must provide the leadership for these elected officials to follow. Your involvement in the election process is critical and, I believe it is our younger voters that understand these environmental issues best and must provide the leadership required.
In the science of forestry, I believe abandoning the concept of growing trees as a crop is step one. We are attempting to manage plants that have a life expectancy of several times more than a human being and plants that supply many of the vital elements required for human existence. Yes, forestry is far more complex then simply planting, growing and harvesting trees. Forests, themselves, are vital resources and far more valuable then all the products we can take from the forests! After discarding this archaic concept that connect forestry and agriculture, we must re-define the goal of forest management. Maintaining and reproducing communities of diverse naturally occurring trees must drive our management objectives!