TREES OF LIFE:FORESTS IN PERIL
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July 31st, 2016

7/31/2016

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  I feel the need to provide more detail into the concerns I have with the science of forest land management. My concerns began with my first assignment with the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service some 50 years ago. My career was very rewarding but, my observations kept haunting me and suggesting something was missing. At first, I thought maybe changes in the science might be needed. Time, however, demonstrated that we were making significant advancements in the science and technology of forestry, still something seemed to be missing!
As I took the time to observe the detail and complexity of the nature world, particularly the forest communities, it became clear we did not need more or better science. The missing link was the understanding and appreciation of the human connection and dependence we require from our natural surroundings.
Science was focused on what we humans can take from the forests not what we must do to manage our remaining forested lands so they can continue to provide for life on this unique and majestic planet. 
My concerns are not unique except they are focused on the science of forestry. Others, including bio-geographers, cultural historians, anthropologists have written for years about our Western cultural value system and it's focus on the human species requirements with little if any recognition for the dependent relationships we share with the non-human species. Several authors have pointed out that our Western cultural values have long emphasized the requirements of the human mode at the expense of other-than-human modes and even at the expense of people who are different from us. All of our institutions, corporate, political, academic, and religious, within our Western culture, are influenced by this focus on the human species. Thomas Berry states that," the religious emphasis on redemption at the neglect of creation" is a clear example of the need re-orient our thinking if we are to provide a desirable future for our species. 
So, for me, the concerns  I have with today's forest management is the unwillingness or inability of the science to re-direct the goal of managing our remaining forested lands so as to continue to provide for the sustenance of life on this planet instead of managing the resources from the forests for human consumption. This will require a more intensive management strategy than previously used and a far deeper appreciation of the complexity of the forest mosaic. We can no longer paint the landscape with a giant brush. The scientist must become a true artist, capable of visualizing the detail of the unique forest communities that make up the forest. The by-product of this management  strategy will be the renewable resources that the trees produce.
If we fail to adjust soon, it has been predicted that young people today will be faced, within the the next 50 years, with the most serious environmental issues our culture has ever had to resolve. Some have suggested, that waiting may make many of these issues unsolvable. We can not wait for the political leadership as many of them, refuse to accept the available science and see no advantage to addressing environmental issues of this magnitude. I suspect, pressure from the bottom up is the only way resolution will be initiated. YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! 
             

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July 17th, 2016

7/17/2016

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Still limited to my left hand so my efforts to write take much longer to complete.
I just received an email pointing out the need to re-read and consider the Multiple-Use, Sustained Yield Act of 1960. I am sure the intent of the author was to suggest the importance of recognizing the productive capabilities of each acre of our remaining forested lands for a variety of forest resources. Certainly, Multiple Use management was an improvement back in the 1960's, but today's management  of our remaining forested acres require significant change over past management practices. Our focus on what we can take from the forests must change to a focus on managing the forest communities for health and diversity. This change must come soon if we hope to provide a future for generations to come.
Dr. Diamond suggests that today's young people will be faced with having to make major adjustments in life styles over the next 50 years, that will challenge even the most progressive minds. It is our responsibility to start the process if we hope to provide for future generations.
Many of our political leaders still refuse to even accept scientific facts as to the impact humans have had on our environment. Denial simply exacerbates the issues and uses up valuable time required to begin the renewal effort. Time is not on our side!
Many suggest that science and technology will find a way for the future. If you take the time to study history, you will find that technological advancements normally intensify the environmental issues, not resolve them. In most every situation, I can think of, advanced technology adds the  affluent life style we enjoy but, intensifies the environmental issues of the human environment.
Urbanization has and will continue to cloud and hide these critical environmental issues from the growing population worldwide but, the issues are still there and expanding in magnitude. Intensive management of our remaining forested lands is essential and it is time to start. Preservation will not even begin to solve the issues. Mother Earth needs help and it is the human species that must step forward! If you truly care about your children's future, you must be willing to become active and insist that those that represent you are in fact, knowledgeable and working to protect your interests! Dr. Diamond suggests that leadership from the bottom up has been the most effective means of resolving environmental issues in other societies. It is time for us to join hands and insist on the essential changes needed to bring us more in balance with the capabilities of our planet.     

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July 02nd, 2016

7/2/2016

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I just lost the use of my right hand as a result of surgery this past week so, no right hand for 6 weeks. Will try to keep up with the left hand.
In my last blog, I indicated I was reading Dr. Diamond's book entitled, " Collapse". His research and findings strongly support and validate the concerns I have been expressing about current forest land management. Dr. Diamond presents the historical documentation of several past societies ( that have failed ) and the reasons for their demise. The major causes of their failure are environmental issues with population expansion and deforestation being very important elements in each case study. It takes little, if any, imagination to observe the similarities between these past failed societies and the course our Western culture is on today. Are we destined to repeat the past or will we make the necessary adjustments to avoid these catastrophic events of the past? 
Dr. Diamond presents several case studies of past societies that have failed, such as Easter Island, the Norris settlement of Greenland, the Mayan and the Aztec people. He goes on to provide examples of modern day cultures that could easily be faced with serious problems in the near future. China is hard pressed to feed it's expanding population and is helping to increase the rate of deforestation on our planet. Australia has extremely low productive soils and is having difficulty supporting an economic agricultural business. We have lost just over 50% of our original forested lands already and the health and condition of our remaining forested acres is critical. What Dr. Diamond fails to point out is that today our entire planet share the environmental components that support the human species worldwide. With 7.5 billion people and the fact that our planet rotates every 24 hours, we have reached a global requirement for solutions that bring us in balance with Mother Earth's capabilities. I am convinced the solutions must come from the bottom up, as I do not see our political leaders being willing or able to provide the leadership required to provide a desirable future for our people!          

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