Blog Archives

August 31st, 2023

8/31/2023

                         THE DESTINY OF MANKIND

MANY PEOPLE TODAY ARE QUESTIONING WHETHER MANKIND IS INHERENTLY VIOLENT OR ARE OUR VIOLENT WAYS A LEARNED BEHAVIOR? IT IS A DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER, AS THERE SEEMS TO BE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT BOTH CONCLUSIONS. IF ONE REVIEWS HISTORY, WARS AMONG THE HUMAN SPECIES, APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN A COMMON OCCURRENCE. OUR HISTORY BOOKS ARE FULL OF WARRING EFFORTS TO CONTROL LAND, PEOPLE, RESOURCES AND POWER. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE GENERAL CITIZENS OF MOST PAST CIVILIZATIONS HAVE ENCOURAGED PEACEFUL RELATIONS, AND PARTICIPATED IN WARS ONLY WHEN FORCED TO BY LEADERSHIP. WE ARE EXPERIENCING MAJOR DIVISION AND CONFRONTATION AMONG THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES TODAY. IT IS APPARENT THAT LEADERSHIP IS AGAIN THE CAUSE OF OUR DIVISION AND CONFLICT.
I RAISE THE QUESTION TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHY OUR SOCIETY CONTINUES TO INITIATE ACTIONS THAT ARE RAPIDLY DESTROYING THE NATURAL WORLD WE REQUIRE FOR FUTURE LIFE. MOST PEOPLE I TALK TO ARE CONCERNED AND WANT TO SUPPORT FUTURE LIFE ON EARTH, BUT FEW ARE INTERESTED OR WILLING TO MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS ESSENTIAL TO PROLONG FUTURE LIFE! WE ARE CONSTANTLY BEING ALERTED TO THE DAMAGE BEING DONE TO THE NATURAL WORLD BY CHANGING CLIMATE CONDITIONS, RISING CARBON DIOXIDE LEVELS IN OUR ATMOSPHERE AND RISING SEA LEVELS. THE CAUSE OF THESE CHANGES IS DUE TO POPULATION EXPANSION AND DEFORESTATION, WHICH ARE THE TWO MOST CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES MANKIND HAS EVER FACED.
THERE IS NO QUESTION, OUR EXCESSIVE DEMANDS FOR ENERGY AND RESOURCES HAVE HAD A VIOLENT IMPACT UPON THE REMAINING NATURAL WORLD. THERE IS ALSO NO QUESTION THAT OUR DEMANDS HAVE CARRIED US TO THE EDGE OF THE CARRYING-CAPACITY OF PLANET EARTH! THINGS MUST CHANGE!
ALTHOUGH THE HISTORY OF MANKIND IS FULL OF VIOLENT ACTIONS, I BELIEVE VIOLENCE HAS INCREASED AS OUR WORLD POPULATION HAS EXPANDED, AND RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS ARE MORE PREVALENT TODAY. SOCIETY HAS CHANGED FROM THE DAYS WHEN WORKING TOGETHER TO SOLVE ISSUES AND COMPLETE MAJOR PROJECTS, WAS COMMON. TODAY, WE ARE FOCUSED ON INDIVIDUALISM. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW TO ACHIEVE OUR FAIR SHARE, PROTECT OUR CURRENT LIFE STYLE, PROTECT OUR FAMILY AND MAKE SURE NO ONE INFRINGES ON OUR RIGHTS. TODAY, OVER EIGHTY PERCENT OF OUR POPULATION ARE URBAN DWELLERS WHO RELY ON THE FEW REMAINING RURAL WORKER TO SUPPLY OUR FOOD, ENERGY AND OTHER RESOURCES. WE HAVE LOST OUR APPRECIATION AND SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NATURAL WORLD?
COMPETITION AND INDIVIDUALISM HAS RESULTED IN EXPANDING OUR VIOLENT ACTIONS ON THE NATURAL WORLD, AND IS DRIVING US EVER CLOSER TO THE PRECIPICE OF THE LIMITED CARRYING-CAPACITY OF EARTH. I AM CONVINCED, THAT THE VIOLENT NATURE OF MANKIND HAS INTENSIFIED WITH THE INCREASED WORLD POPULATION AND THE URBANIZATION OF OUR WORLD POPULATION. THESE TWO SITUATIONS HAVE INCREASED COMPETITION FOR ENERGY AND RESOURCES AND WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE, AS THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES CONTINUE TO SHRINK.
THE DEMISE OF THE EASTER ISLAND CIVILIZATION, CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES WHAT MANKIND WILL EXPERIENCE WHEN THE NATURAL WORLD EXCEEDS ITS LIMITED CARRYING-CAPACITY FOR REQUIRED RESOURCES. CONFLICT BETWEEN THE HAVES AND HAVE-NOTS WILL BECAME EXTREMELY VIOLENT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE HAVES GENERALLY OUT-LIVE THE HAVE-NOTS BUT SUFFER LONGER BEFORE EXTINCTION. EASTER ISLAND WAS A REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE OF THE COLLAPSE AND FAILURE OF AN ENTIRE CIVILIZATION. ACCEPTANCE OF REALITY AND A WILLINGNESS TO WORK TOGETHER IS THE ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE THE INEVITABLE FUTURE FOR MANKIND. WHEN NATURE CAN NO LONGER PROVIDE THE ELEMENTS THAT SUPPORT LIFE, MANKIND WILL BE THE FIRST TO SUFFER AND BECOME EXTINCT!
CERTAINLY, WE ARE SMART ENOUGH TO SEE THE CHANGING CONDITIONS IN THE NATURAL WORLD BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE! FOCUSING OUR MANAGEMENT SKILLS ON THE HEALTH AND DIVERSITY OF OUR REMAINING FOREST LANDS MUST BE GIVEN TOP PRIORITY. THIS MEANS INTENSIFYING MANAGEMENT OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS, FOLLOWING NATURES WAY. MOST OF THE REQUIRED CHANGES CAN BE IMPLEMENTED WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE ACTION BY THE CONGRESS. LEADERSHIP HAS THE AUTHORITY TO CHANGE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WITHOUT ADDITIONAL LAWS. AN UNDERSTANDING OF ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES AND HUMANITY’S CONNECTION TO THE NATURAL WORLD ARE ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESSFUL ADJUSTMENTS. COMBINING OUR SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE WITH THE TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE'S OF OUR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE CAN PROVIDE REALISTIC AND RATIONAL SOLUTIONS FOR REVISIONS TO FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF OUR INVALUABLE FORESTED LANDS. THE GOAL IS TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND DIVERSITY, NOT WHAT WE CAN TAKE FROM THE FOREST COMMUNITIES! LEARNING TO LIVE IN BALANCE WITH NATURE IS MANDATORY.

0 Comments

August 13th, 2023

8/13/2023

0 Comments

                    WHY PEOPLE CONTINUE TO IGNORE THE ISSUE OF OUR
                                      SHRINKING NATURAL WORLD

THE EXPANSION OF OUR WORLD POPULATION IS FACING A MAJOR ISSUE EFFECTING THE SUSTENANCE OF LIFE ON PLANET EARTH. THE NATURAL WORLD PROVIDES THE ELEMENTS, RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS THAT SUPPORT LIFE SYSTEMS ON EARTH AND HAS SIGNIFICANTLY SHRUNK IN SIZE AND ITS ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES REQUIRED FOR LIFE ON OUR PLANET. THE SHRINKAGE IS THE RESULT OF MANKIND’S INCREASING DEMAND FOR ENERGY AND RESOURCES FROM EARTH’S LIMITED LAND BASE. THERE ARE A FEW VOICES THAT KEEP ALERTING US TO THE ISSUE AND OUR FUTURE FATE, IF WE CONTINUE OUR UNQUENCHABLE THRUSTS AND DEMANDS.
WE KEEP DISCUSSING AND APPROPRIATING MONEY TO FIND WAYS TO ELIMINATE OUR DEPENDENCY ON FOSSIL FUELS, MAINLY BECAUSE THE LIMITS OF CRUDE OIL ARE OBVIOUS. CARING FOR THE NATURAL WORLD, HOWEVER, GETS LITTLE ATTENTION. WE CONTINUE TO TAKE FROM THE NATURE WHAT WE WANT, WITH LITTLE CONCERN FOR THE FACT THE NATURAL WORLD IS SHRINKING RAPIDLY, AND THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE SEEM TO CARE LESS. WHY?
THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS WHICH NEED TO BE HIGH-LIGHTED. ONE OF THE MAIN CONCERNS IS THE MISINFORMATION BEING DISSEMINATED BY CORPORATE, POLITICAL AND EVEN RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR LEADERSHIP. MUCH OF THE MISINFORMATION IS ACTUAL LIES, DESIGNED TO MISLEAD THE PUBLIC TO PROTECT PROFIT MARGINS. THE REQUIRED ADJUSTMENTS WILL AFFECT THE AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES AND DEMAND INCREASED COSTS TO PROTECT THE REMAINING NATURAL WORLD. OUR CORPORATE INSTITUTIONS ARE OBVIOUSLY, CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT THESE MAJOR ADJUSTMENTS WOULD HAVE ON PROFITABILITY. I BELIEVE, INSTITUTING THE NEEDED CHANGES WITH MORE INTENSIVE MANAGEMENT, WILL CREATE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES, PARTICULARLY IN OUR MORE RURAL COMMUNITIES. THESE JOBS WILL INCLUDE EMPLOYMENT BY THE FOREST LAND MANAGING ORGANIZATIONS, AND CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRIVATE SMALL BUSINESS. THE CHANGES WILL USUALLY NOT INCLUDE TREE PLANTING, BUT RATHER SILVICULTURAL TREATMENTS TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND DIVERSITY, ALONG WITH ENCOURAGING NATURAL REGENERATION OF INDIGENOUS TREE SPECIES.
UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE VERY LITTLE HOPE FOR OUR POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS, AS THERE IS FAR TOO MUCH DIVISIVENESS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS, TO RESOLVE MAJOR PUBLIC ISSUES. COOPERATION TO ACCOMPLISH SERIOUS ISSUES APPEARS TO BE A THING OF THE PAST. WORKING TOGETHER TO RESOLVE MAJOR PUBLIC ISSUES FREQUENTLY INVOLVES CONTROVERSY, WHICH CAN RESULT IN LOSE OF VOTE AT ELECTION TIME. POLITICIAN’S FOCUS IS ON ELECTION AND REELECTION. VOTERS NEEDS AND DESIRES, SEEM TO GET LOST IN THE PROCESS.
RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE REQUIRES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, WHICH MOST CANDIDATES DON’T PERSONALLY HAVE. THEY ARE FORCED TO RELY ON CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE VERY WEALTHY, WHO CONTRIBUTE TO GAIN INFLUENCE FROM THE POTENTIAL CANDIDATE. A SINGLE CANDIDATE FOR SENATOR IN ARIZONA RECENTLY SPENT 49 MILLION DOLLARS JUST IN THE PRIMARIES, AND THEN HAD TO FIND FUNDING FOR THE ACTUAL CAMPAIGN VOTE BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT PARTY CANDIDATES. UNFORTUNATELY, MANY POLITICIANS ARE ACTIVELY SPREADING MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE NATURAL WORLD AND CLIMATE CHANGE BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THE TRUTH WILL DESTROY THEIR CHANGES IN ELECTIONS.
I AM EMBARRASSED TO REPORT, EVEN OUR RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE ERRONEOUS INFORMATION ABOUT THE DESTRUCTIVE IMPACT MANKIND HAS HAD ON THE NATURAL WORLD. I STARTED THIS ARTICLE JUST PRIOR TO ATTENDING CHURCH SERVICES WHERE THE PASTOR’S MESSAGE POINTED OUT THAT HUMANITY WAS INCAPABLE AND CANNOT BE TRUSTED TO ASSIST IN IMPROVING OUR SHRINKING NATURAL WORLD. HE CONCLUDED BY TELLING THE PEOPLE WE SHOULD SET BACK AND ENJOY THE RIDE, “JUSTICE IS MINE SAITH THE LORD”. GENESIS CLEARLY STATES, “GOD PLACED MANKIND IN THE GARDEN AND COMMANDED HIM TO NURTURE AND CARE FOR THE LAND”. I HAD HOPED THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL WOULD PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITY OF CREATION AND RE-ESTABLISH OUR SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LAND. WE NEED TO CONTINUE OUR EMPHASES ON REDEMPTION OF THE INDIVIDUAL, BUT GIVE EQUAL ATTENTION TO CREATION AND HUMANITY’S DEPENDENCE UPON THE NATURAL WORLD.
THERE ARE NUMEROUS EFFORTS TO MISLEAD THE PEOPLE, MOST OF WHICH ARE BASED UPON GREED AND SELFISHNESS. WE MUST, HOWEVER, ACCEPT THAT SOCIAL NORMS HAVE CHANGED AND MADE SIGNIFICANT ADJUSTMENTS IN OUR HUMAN VALUES. OUR WORLD POPULATION CONTINUES TO EXPAND AT AN ALARMING RATE, WHICH AUTOMATICALLY INCREASES OUR COMPETITION FOR THE LIMITED RESOURCES AND ENERGY. THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR WORLD POPULATION ARE NOW CONSIDERED URBANITIES. IN THE UNITED STATES LESS THAN 19% OF THE PEOPLE ARE CONSIDERED RURAL RESIDENCES. POPULATION EXPANSION AND SHIFTS TO URBANIZATION, OBVIOUSLY CHANGE PEOPLES ATTITUDE TOWARD NATURE, AS THEY ADJUST TO THE CROWDED CONCRETE NEIGHBORHOODS AND SHOPPING CENTERS. MANY, ARE NO LONGER AWARE OF HOW THE LOCAL GROCERY STORE SHELFS GET STOCKED. HOW CAN WE EXPECT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE AND DEVELOP CONCERNS ABOUT THE SHRINKING NATURAL WORLD?
URBANIZATION HAS ALSO CHANGED THE WAY WE THINK AND REACT TO OTHER PEOPLE. WE SPENT OVER TWO YEARS LIVING IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA IN A TOWN HOUSE COMPLEX, AND MET VERY FEW OF THE NEIGHBORS. WE BOTH, ALONG WITH OUR NEIGHBORS, WORKED FULL TIME AND LEFT AT 6AM, RETURNING AT 6PM. WEEKENDS WERE TIMES WHEN WE TRIED TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO RELAX OUTSIDE THE BUSY BIG CITY LIFE. IT SEEMED THAT EVERYONE WAS CHASING THE GREEN DOLLAR, AND HAD LITTLE TIME FOR VISITING OR ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF NATURE. OUR FOCUS WAS ON GREED AND SELFISH INDIVIDUALISM.
IN MY YOUTH, YOU WOULD HAVE FOUND ME FISHING ON THE SURROUNDING STREAMS AND LAKES, EXPLORING THE FOREST LANDS THAT WERE CLOSE BY, OR HUNTING GROUSE AND RABBITS. FULFILLMENT OF MY LIFE DEPENDED UPON EXPERIENCES IN MY SURROUNDING NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. MY QUIET TIME WAS LISTENING TO COUNTRY WESTERN MUSIC ON AN OLD PHILCO TUBE-TYPE RADIO. BIG CITY LIFE WAS FOREIGN AND MILES AWAY. UNFORTUNATELY, FEW YOUTHS HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TODAY.
WE SIMPLY MUST ADMIT THAT WE ARE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE SHRINKING NATURAL WORLD. WE DON’T UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITY OF NATURE OR THE VITAL ELEMENTS, PROVIDED BY NATURE, THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO SUSTAIN LIFE. IN OUR OWN SELFISH WAY, WE APPARENTLY COULD CARE LESS. WHEN OUR INCOME INCREASES, OUR CONSUMPTION OF RESOURCES AND ENERGY DOES LIKE WISE, AND THE NATURAL WORLD CONTINUES TO SHRINK.
I AM APPALLED BY THE MANY EFFORTS TO LIMIT THE HISTORY EDUCATION OF OUR YOUTH, FOR LACK OF UNDERSTANDING THE PAST ASSURES WE WILL REPEAT OUR MISTAKES. SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE! WE ARE EXPOSED TO MISINFORMATION AND LIES ON A DAILY BASIS. IT IS COMMON TO HEAR PEOPLE EXPRESS THAT THEY DON’T KNOW WHO TO TRUST. A LARGE NUMBER SAY THEY DON’T TRUST THE MEDIA AND POLITICIANS ARE NOT RESPECTED FOR THE TRUTH. INSTEAD, THEY TURN TO THE INTERNET FOR INFORMATION, WHICH IS TOTALLY UNREGULATED FOR ACCURACY.
THE RICHER WE GET THE MORE WE CONSUME, AND THE MORE SELF-CENTERED AND CARELESS WE BECOME FOR THE LIVES OF OTHERS. A RECENT SURVEY BY THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL FOR CLIMATE CONTROL, INDICATE ONLY 11% OF AMERICANS CONSIDER THE SHRINKING NATURAL WORLD TO BE IN THEIR TOP 3 ISSUES OF CONCERN. FOR YEARS SCIENCE HAS BEEN TELLING US ONLY ECONOMIC GROWTH CAN SAVE THE BIOSPHERE, AND WE ARE THE LEADERS IN SOPHISTICATION, INTELLECT AND COMPASSION. THE FACTS SUGGEST JUST THE OPPOSITE. ACCORDING TO THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL FOR CLIMATE CONTROL, THE U.S., AUSTRALIA AND CANADA ARE RANKED AMONG THE WORST IN FAILING TO LIMIT THEIR MASSIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF CLIMATE CONTROL.
WE MUST WAKE UP AND ACCEPT THE TRUTH! THERE ARE MANY FORCES ATTEMPTING TO MISLEAD US BY OUTRIGHT LIES. WE HAVE LOST OUR CONNECTION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURAL WORLD. CONTINUED SHRINKING OF THE NATURAL WORLD WILL RESULT IN EXCEEDING THE CARRYING-CAPACITY OF EARTH. COLLAPSE AND FAILURE OF HUMAN CULTURES WILL FOLLOW! I CAN ASSURE YOU; MANKIND DOES HAVE THE INTELLIGENCE AND CAPABILITY TO “NURTURE AND CARE FOR THE LAND”, WHICH WILL RESULT IN EXTENDING LIFE ON EARTH! WE HAVE GOT TO JOIN HANDS WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, IN ORDER TO START A REVELATION TO SAVE OUR NATURAL WORLD! MAJOR CHANGE HAPPENS WHEN THE PEOPLE INSIST UPON ACTION. THE STATUS-QUO IS UNACCEPTABLE!!

0 Comments

CREATION AND THE NATURAL WORLD

8/4/2023

0 Comments

THE STORY OF CREATION

RELIGIOUS BELIEFS GREW OUT OF MANKIND’S DESIRE TO EXPLAIN AND UNDERSTAND THE MAGIC OF LIFE ON PLANET EARTH, THE STORY OF CREATION. FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, THE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS IN THE GREAT CREATOR HAS SATISFIED THAT QUEST FOR AN UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE ON THIS MAJESTIC PLANET. IT IS AMAZING HOW SIMILAR THE VARIOUS WORLD RELIGIONS VIEW THE STORY OF CREATION, A GIFT FROM THE GREAT CREATOR. IF ONE TAKES THE TIME TO STUDY INTO THE DEPTHS OF CREATION, WE BEGIN TO SEE THE ORDERLINESS, MAGNITUDE AND CONNECTIONS THAT EXIST WITHIN THE NATURAL WORLD. TO THIS DAY, WE HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF HOW THE SEVEN UNIVERSES’ AND THE BILLIONS OF PLANETS WITHIN EACH UNIVERSE, WERE CREATED. IN MY ESTIMATION, THE MAGICAL RELATIONSHIPS THAT SUSTAIN LIFE ON EARTH SUPPORTS THE CONCLUSION OF INTELLIGENT DESIGN.
I HAVE SPENT CONSIDERABLE TIME ANALYZING THE ABOVE THOUGHTS AS THEY RELATE TO MY 34 YEARS OF EXPERIENCES AND OBSERVATIONS IN THE SCIENCE OF FORESTRY. IT HAS FORCED ME TO RE-EVALUATE THE SCIENCE OF FORESTRY AND THE GOALS THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR REMAINING FOREST COVERED LANDS, PARTICULARLY OUR PUBLIC FORESTED LANDS. FOREST LAND MANAGEMENT WAS INITIATED IN THE 1880’S IN THE UNITED STATES, FOLLOWING A LONG PERIOD OF LAND CLEARING FOR AGRICULTURAL USE AND EXCESSIVE TREE HARVESTING TO BUILD A NEW NATION. SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS OBSERVED THE DEVASTATING REMOVAL OF THE TREES, AND DEVELOPED CONCERNS FOR WHAT WAS HAPPENING. PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT, KNOWN FOR HIS HUNTING EXPEDITIONS, WAS CONCERNED AND SET ASIDE THE FIRST PUBLIC FOREST LANDS, KNOWN AS THE YELLOWSTONE FOREST RESERVE. ANOTHER CONCERNED CITIZEN WAS THE FATHER OF GIFFORD PINCHOT, WHO HAD MADE A LARGE FORTUNE IN HARVESTING WOOD PRODUCTS FROM THE EASTERN FORESTS. CONCERNED FOR THE DEVASTATING IMPACT OF HIS ACTIVITIES; HE CONVINCED HIS SON TO STUDY FORESTRY IN FRANCE. GIFFORD WAS A FRIEND OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT AND AFTER A MAJOR CONFLICT WITH SECRETARY OF INTERIOR, BOLLINGER, WAS APPOINTED CHIEF OF THE NEW FEDERAL AGENCY, THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOREST SERVICE. GIFFORD’S FRIENDSHIP WITH ROOSEVELT AND HIS DEFINITION OF FORESTRY, “GROWING TREES AS CROPS”, CONVINCED ROOSEVELT TO PLACE THE NEW AGENCY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. THE NEW AGENCY’S MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLE WAS TERMED, “CONSERVATION-WISE USE”. THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, HOWEVER, TENDED TO FOLLOW JOHN MUIRE’S PRINCIPLE OF “PRESERVATION”.
IN 1905 THE FOREST SERVICE WAS FORMED, AND TO THIS DAY, THE AGENCY REMAINS FOCUSED ON COMMERCIAL HARVESTING OF TREES FROM THE 193 MILLION ACRES OF NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LANDS. THE TIMBER SALES ARE PREPARED BY EMPLOYEES OF THE FOREST SERVICE AND THEN AWARDED TO THE HIGHEST BID BY COMMERCIAL LOGGING COMPANIES. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME POSITIVE CHANGES, SUCH AS THE MULTIPLE USE- SUSTAINED YIELD ACT OF 1960 AND THE NATIONAL FOREST MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1976, BUT TREE HARVESTING REMAINS THE DRIVING GOAL OF THE AGENCY. TRUE, THE HARVESTING LEVELS HAVE DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY AS A RESULT OF PRESSURE FROM ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS. THE FOREST SERVICE IN THE 1970’S WAS HARVESTING 11.5 BILLION BOARD FEET OF TIMBER, AND IS NOW HARVESTING BETWEEN 2 AND 3 BILLION BOARD FEET, BUT CLEAR-CUTTING LARGE AREAS OF ECONOMICALLY MATURE STANDS REMAINS THE PREFERRED SILVICULTURAL TREATMENT. NO ATTENTION IS PAID TO THE UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL ECOSYSTEMS WITHIN THE SALE AREA, AND EVER ACRE RECEIVES THE SAME TREATMENT. THIS TREATMENT IS DESTROYING DIVERSITY, AND TO EXACERBATE THE DESTRUCTION, THE HARVEST AREA IS PLANTED WITH SINGLE SPECIES AND SINGLE AGE CLASS SEEDLINGS TO FURTHER DESTROY DIVERSITY.
WESTERN CONIFER STANDS ARE FREQUENTLY PLANTED WITH SINGLE SPECIES AND SINGLE AGE CLASSES FOLLOWING TIMBER HARVESTING OPERATIONS. ALL TO OFTEN, NON-INDIGENOUS SPECIES ARE INTRODUCED, AND NATURAL DIVERSITY IS DESTROYED. EVEN THOUGH THESE WESTERN NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS WERE LESS DIVERSIFIED THAN THE NATURAL EASTERN HARDWOOD ECOSYSTEMS, THEY STILL EXHIBIT DIVERSITY IN AGE CLASSES AND SOME SPECIES DIVERSITY IF ALLOWED TO REGENERATE FROM THE NATIVE SEED SOURCES. THE DECIDUOUS ECOSYSTEMS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES ARE SHADE TOLERANT AND CONTAIN A MIX OF AGE CLASSES AND NUMEROUS DIFFERENT SPECIES. I WAS PRESENT FOR A MEETING AT THE DUKE EXPERIMENTAL FOREST IN THE UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN, WHEN FOREST SERVICE RESEARCH DIVISION WAS RECOMMENDING TRANSITIONING TO EVEN-AGE MANAGEMENT FOR THE NORTHERN HARDWOOD ECOSYSTEMS. THIS TRANSITION WAS BEING RECOMMEND TO INCREASE THE PRODUCTION OF WOOD FIBER PER ACRE. SEVERAL SCIENTISTS OBJECTED STRONGLY TO THE CHANGE FOR HARDWOOD TIMBER TYPES, HOWEVER THE TRANSITION WAS IMPLEMENTED.
SOON AFTER THE TRANSITION, I WAS TRANSFERRED TO SOUTHERN MISSOURI AND INITIATED A POLICY PAPER WHICH LIMITED THE USE OF CLEAR-CUTTING FOR THE CENTRAL HARDWOOD TYPES, UNLESS THERE WAS A RATIONALE PRESENTED TO RE-ESTABLISH PIONEER SPECIES ON A PARTICULAR SIGHT. THE PURPOSE WAS TO MAINTAIN OR IMPROVE THE DIVERSITY OF THE HARDWOOD ECOSYSTEMS BY USING SELECTIVE AND SHELTER-WOOD SILVICULTURAL TREATMENTS TO PRODUCE NATURAL REGENERATION BY THE MOTHER TREES ON SITE.
I ALSO INITIATED A PROJECT TO MAP AND COLLECT DATA ON THE INDIVIDUAL ECOSYSTEMS FOR ANALYZE ON THE DISTRICT. SINCE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE, THE DATA WAS STORED ON MACBEE KEY SORT CARDS. THE DISTRICT WAS 200 THOUSAND ACRES, AND THE AVERAGE ECOSYSTEM IDENTIFIED WAS 35 ACRES IN SIZE. THE STATE OF MISSOURI WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT FOUND THIS DATA VALUABLE IN THEIR TURKEY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND ENCOURAGED ME TO PRESENT A PAPER ON THE PROJECT AT THE 1964 MID-WEST WILDLIFE CONFERENCE. MY PAPER WAS TO DEMONSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF INDIVIDUAL ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT IN MAKING PROPER MANAGEMENT DECISIONS.
THESE EXPERIENCES AND OBSERVATIONS FORM THE BASIS FOR MY CONCERNS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGING PUBLIC FOREST LAND MANAGEMENT GOALS. ADVANCED RESEARCH AND STUDY HAVE INTENSIFIED MY CONCERNS AND LEAD TO A SEARCH FOR PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS THAT CAN INITIATE THE REQUIRED CHANGES. FOREST MANAGEMENT CAN NO LONGER FOCUS ON MANAGING THE RESOURCES FROM THE FORESTS. WITH ONLY TWENTY-SIX PERCENT OF EARTH’S ORIGINAL FORESTED LANDS REMAINING, WE MUST REFOCUS ON MANAGING THE FORESTS FOR HEALTH AND DIVERSITY, WITH FOREST RESOURCES BEING THE BY-PRODUCT OF SOUND MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE, YET LITTLE EFFORT APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING. EVEN OUR FORESTRY SCHOOLS REMAIN FOCUSED ON TRAINING STUDENTS IN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, RATHER THAN FOREST ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT. WE KNOW THAT DEFORESTATION IS HAVING AS MUCH EFFECT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AS IS THE CONSUMPTION OF FOSSIL FUELS, AND IS DESTROYING THE ESSENTIAL DIVERSITY OF THE NATURAL WORLD. SCIENCE TELLS US THAT EIGHTY PERCENT OF ALL LIFE ON EARTH REQUIRE TREES TO SURVIVE. FORESTS ARE A LARGE PART OF THE NATURAL WORLD, AND CONTINUE TO BE DEFORESTED AT THE RATE EQUIVALENT TO TWENTY FOOTBALL FIELDS EVERY MINUTE WORLDWIDE. AS THE NATURAL WORLD IS OBLITERATED, LIFE ON EARTH WILL DISAPPEAR AS WELL!
DELVING INTO THE DETAILS OF CREATION, REVEALS THE COMPLEXITY OF THE NATURAL WORLD AND HUMANITY’S DEPENDENCE UPON THAT WORLD FOR THE SUSTENANCE OF LIFE! MANAGEMENT OF OUR FOREST COVERED LANDS IS FAR MORE COMPLEX THAN THE AGRICULTURAL PRINCIPLES OF GROWING CROPS. ALTHOUGH OUR BODIES REQUIRE FOOD FOR SURVIVAL, MANAGING OUR REMAINING FOREST ECOSYSTEMS, TO SUSTAIN LIFE ON OUR PLANET, REQUIRES A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS! PROPER MANAGEMENT OF OUR REMAINING FORESTED LANDS IS CRITICAL, AND MUST CHANGE. LIVING IN BALANCE WITH NATURE AND HELPING MAINTAIN THE HEALTH AND DIVERSITY OF OUR REMAINING FORESTED LANDS IS ESSENTIAL!

0 Comments