TREES OF LIFE:FORESTS IN PERIL
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November 24th, 2016

11/24/2016

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We have settled into our winter location and are having great weather compared to conditions in Michigan. I have decided to do a second edition of my book, Trees of Life - Our Forests in Peril. I have been doing a lot of reading and feel the need to expand on what the future will be like, if we continue our quest for wealth and  fluency. In searching for more detailed facts about the condition of our natural world, I find that several people have attempted to alert us to the concerns of human impacts on our environment, with little success. Ecology has been a recognized science for the past 150 years and prior to that time it was call Natural History. In fact, our indigenous people have well understood the need to live in balance with Mother Earth for centuries. Our western society however, has never appreciated the fact that we are but a small part of the natural world and that our quest to take the resources from the earth has limitations.
Our institutions are focused on the individual and tend to neglect creation. Even our religious institutions focus on redemption at the expense of creation. Somehow we must find ways to change our current attitudes!
It is our responsibility to care for the Earth and the "gift of life". There is no doubt in my mind, that the most important environmental issue, we face worldwide, is population expansion. In only 35 years our world population will exceed 10 billion people. The changes that will be required need our attention today.
This issue is followed closely by the problem of deforestation. Efforts are underway to find ways of maximizing productivity of our limited land base, so as to feed the masses. These efforts include genetically manipulating plants to force larger production, formulating chemical fertilizers to produce more volume per acre and deforesting acres to provide increased acreage for crops. These efforts do not come without problems. For example, genetic alterations are proving in some cases to alter the grain or fruit to the point it is no longer digestible by the human body, as with wheat. Deforestation will result in shortages of pure water for human consumption, climatic changes, loss of carbon dioxide storage, loss of oxygen production and loss of productive top soil.
Some how we have to come together and change our ways and our future. We have a responsibility to future generations and that responsibility requires stewardship of our natural environment. I encourage you to consider ideas that might awaken people to search for new ideas of how we can live in balance with the life sustaining natural world. Together we can make a difference! 
Re-doing parts of my book, are to try to amplify the importance of caring for our natural surroundings and hopefully, generating support from others to join in the effort. Observations tell us " What we do to Earth, we do to ourselves"!  

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November 10th, 2016

11/10/2016

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sI usually don't post a new article right after having just completed a post but, the unusual events of this election have stirred my concerns. It is difficult to predict what will happen but, the unprecedented reporting of happenings following this election have peaked my concerns. This is the first time in my lifetime, I can recall that large protests against the elected President are occurring nationwide. I have heard local news reporting that for the first time many voters cast their vote for all but the presidential candidates. Once again we have experienced a candidate winning the Electoral College vote but losing the popular vote. The media consistently are reporting on the division that is apparent within our country. We have just experienced 8 years of a do nothing Congress where political power has been more important than the American citizens needs, and the day after the election we experienced a significant drop in the stock market signifying concerns of investors. I am not sure what all this means but, I hope somehow this confrontational politics will be pushed aside and we will find a way to come together for the benefit of our Nation.
My major concerns have to do with the Republican Platform for the next administration. I am very concerned with the proposal to transfer the administration and financial responsibility for many federal programs to the States, to reduce federal spending. This requires careful analysis of the magnitude and cost of the program being transferred prior to determining at what level do we have the resources to administer the selected program. The last time we tried this transfer process, the federal government cut taxes and thereby, had to cut spending. Reduced spending was accomplished by eliminating federal grant monies to the States, leaving them in an untenable position. Many States are now having to reduce services or raise taxes, and some are near bankruptcy. 
The other item within the Platform which scares me is the support for the transfer of federally administrated public lands to the States. In my estimation, this would be a devastating mistake for humanity. It will require significant investments in proper management to maintain the human contribution these valuable lands provide to our natural world we depend upon for life. Our States simply can not and will not, be capable of financing the cost of this responsibility.  The most likely scenario will be for the States to sell off these lands to private companies and individuals to help balance the State budgets. The last time States sold off infrastructure, some elements were even sold to foreign counties. I truly believe, following this coarse of action will result in one of the most devastating adverse impacts on the human environment that could possibly occur. Natural resource managers and scientists need to take a strong stance against this proposal before it is to late!!!!                   

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November 09th, 2016

11/9/2016

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 with We are currently enjoying the unusually warm fall weather on The Lake of The Cherokees in Grove, Oklahoma. I was just reading an article from the Missoulian News Paper which was pointing out that over half of the western wildfires that have occurred on National Forest System lands in the past decade, were caused by human ignition. The article stated that there had been over 73,000 wildfires during the past 10 years and more than half were human caused. The reporter was interviewing someone that considered them self to be an environmentalist. The person was pointing out that this study's conclusion should help demonstrate the fact that you can not keep blaming the "Preservation Concept of Management" for all the problems pertaining to the management of our valuable forested lands. I totally agree!
I turned to the comment section of my linkedin, "Forestry", connection and began reading the few comments that had been posted about the article. One of the commenters pointed out that, in fact, much of the reason for the increase in number and magnitude of wildfires over the past 10 years must rest squarely on the shoulders of the U.S. Forest Service's management, or lack thereof, of our remaining forested acres. I also agree wholeheartedly with this conclusion! I do however, feel the need to expand on this comment. You all know from my previous posts, that I firmly believe significant change is required in the management of our remaining forest lands. I believe this change will have a direct impact on the severity and numbers of wildfires we experience annually. The problem we face with forestry is the same as the problem we have developed in agriculture. For efficiency reasons, we lump individual communities together and treat them as if they are all the same, thus destroying the natural diversity that was part of their original creation. We exacerbate the problem by thinking good management is planting the area with trees, sometimes even non-indigenous species. You simply can not regenerate a community from a seed bag following a single treatment for an area that includes numerous communities. We must also allow the local scientist to select the best tool for the job. Proper management to preserve or enhance health and diversity is the best solutions to reducing the severity and frequency of wildfires, as well as other catastrophic events, in our valuable forested lands. 
Our planet is losing the equivalent acreage of twenty football fields to deforestation every minute. Projections indicate at this rate, we will denude our planet of trees within the next 700 years. The magnitude of the problem expands every year as we cover our heads and ignore the obvious! Sadly, it is not just forestry. In the last 48 hours, the State of Oklahoma has experienced 3 earth quakes as we destroy our home land in search of the remaining drops of fossil fuel. When will we learn from the past and change for the future? Will it be too late?  THE SOLUTION WILL NOT BE FOUND IN EITHER THE MANAGEMENT CONCEPT OF "PRESERVATION" OR "CONSERVATION". WE MUST FOLLOW "NATURES WAY"!                

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