TREES OF LIFE:FORESTS IN PERIL
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August 31st, 2014

8/31/2014

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Recently, I have been reading and participating in some of the discussions on forest management issues that can be found on some of the internet blog sites. The comments focus on the different opinions of those who support the "Preservation" concepts verses those that believe in the utilization of the products from the forests, "Wise Use". One of the most recent articles was about the difficulty a Forest Supervisor of the Stanislaw National Forest was having in deciding to salvage the dead timber from the Rim Fire of 2013. Environmentalists are threatening to sue over the decision to salvage the dead trees on about 13% of the area burned. The fire was extremely large and burned a total of 400 square miles of forest. Timber industry was, naturally supporting the salvage position for economic reasons and the Forest Service was concerned about the economics and the need to re-establish the forest cover. My experience tells me the environmentalists are not concerned about salvaging the dead trees as much as the access that will be needed to do so. 
     The news release is of great concern to me as it is again an example of a discussion focused on the resources of the forest rather than the management goals for the forest. The first concern is that burning 400 square miles of forest cover is unacceptable and suggest to me that past management deserves careful review. This fire has destroyed a massive amount of diversity by burning a large mosaic of forest communities. One treatment, for a 400 square mile unit of land is simply not a desirable process. Had we been working to keep these individual communities healthy and vigorous, and recognized the unique characteristics of these individual communities, we could have reduced the risk of catastrophic events like this. Maximizing bio-diversity is the best tool we have to minimize future events like this. A fire-fighter knows to search for the slightest changes in site characteristics and vegetation conditions as they know the fire behavior will change and give them an opportunity gain the upper hand. The scientist needs to observe and recognize these same site changes as well, and develop prescriptions to encourage diversity.
     I suggest, the Forest Supervisor should have focused the discussion with the various interests on establishing management goals and objectives for the burned over land. Once these goals and objectives have been established the forest scientists should develop individual management prescriptions for the unique communities within the burned area. The focus of these prescriptions should be to identify the individual site characteristics so as to maximize bio-diversity. The final step is then to select the best tools to accomplish the required treatments. To me, it makes sense to salvage the products that can be recovered economically as a part of the restoration efforts.  Somehow, we must learn where and how to start the discussions on issues such as this. We don't need "agreement", but we must have "informed consent".   
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August 20th, 2014

8/20/2014

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Since our last blog we have been preparing for our course at Montcalm Community College. Our initial focus will be on problem definition. One can not question the fact that science has made significant advancements over the past 50 years in the technology of forest land management. Today a forest management team is represented by foresters, soils scientists, hydrologists, range conservationists, wildlife biologists, landscape architects, fishery biologists and so it goes. Specialization has become common place. Although the technical knowledge is present, experience has demonstrated the difficulty of forming an inter-disciplinary effort for the benefit of the forest communities. I found a tendency for specialists to become advocates for their area of interest rather than a melding of knowledge to identify the best management practices to accomplish the predetermined goal for treatment. Much of the problem, I believe is the result of not investing the time to define the goal and objectives for treating a particular forest community.  I prefer the word community, although most scientists would define the unit as a Eco-system. I find that community is easier understood by the public and it tends to help people understand the fact that the unit is unique and there are many relationships at work within the unit that must be observed and understood. Most communities are defined by site characteristics, such as soil type and characteristics, slope, aspect, slope position, moisture conditions, as well as vegetative cover. The ability to observe and understand these unique communities and the relationships that are constantly at work within each community is, what I consider, to be the missing link in the science of forestry. This is where "Traditional Knowledge's" of our indigenous people offers wisdom and solutions for better management of our remaining forests.           
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August 03rd, 2014

8/3/2014

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Our efforts to reach out to Native American individuals and groups for help in gaining increased awareness of the need to change the way we see and relate to our remaining forests, has brought us in contact with many new people. It has also required us to expand our knowledge of recent activities that are beginning to recognize the importance of the wisdom of our Native Americans, particularly as it relates to our environment. This past week I learned the definition of the concept of "traditional knowledge's" as it relates to our indigenous people. This was a completely new concept for me, but appears to be exactly what I have been trying to explain in my book. It is defined as knowledge developed through empirical observation. For me, it is the information or knowledge developed through detailed observation of the complexity of creation, nature and forest communities. Through detailed observation, one begins to understand the multitude and magnitude of the relationships that are occurring within the human environment and forests in particular. Frequently, we refer to traditional knowledge's to recognize there are differences among the various indigenous societies. One must also recognize that much work is being done to protect our indigenous people from the miss-use and misappropriation of traditional knowledge's. 
    For at least the last 50 years, I have been haunted by the feeling that this wisdom our indigenous people have developed must become a dominant part of our western scientific thinking process! I wish I could explain where, how and why these concerns I carry, have dominated my life for so long. I do know we must find ways to take down the barriers that are preventing the sharing of knowledge between cultures for the benefit of all people! TOGETHER WE CAN AND MUST MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
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