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December 20th, 2014

12/20/2014

It has been a year since my book was published and I want to thank those that have supported our efforts to make a difference in the science of Forestry. My concerns grow stronger with each passing year. The past 12 months has been exciting as we have traveled and presented seminars and programs to a variety of groups and individuals. We have made a special effort to reach out to several Native American Tribes and individuals, as I truly believe their culture understands the complexity of nature in greater depth than our Western culture. It is this ability to appreciate and understand how our lives are connected and dependent upon the relationships we share with all of our surroundings and creatures, that holds the key to successful management of our remaining forested lands. Our efforts to reach others during this past year has provided significant knowledge and understanding for us. Several people with American Indian ancestry have shared with us wisdom of their traditional knowledge passed down from their elders that has allowed us to develop an even deep appreciation for the need to adjust our forest management goals for the future. We knew nothing of the Seven Fire Prophecies of the Anishinaabe Nation when I was writing the book, but were amassed to find how close the Seventh Prophecy matches our major focus for the book. Yes, this past year has had a strong influence on us and has encouraged us to reach others interested in the human environment. Our hope is that the Native American people will find it possible to share their Traditional Knowledge, WISDOM, about nature, and our Western culture and scientists will recognize the importance and need to incorporate this wisdom into the scientific process for managing our valuable forests!
Thank you again for your support and we would be very interested in your thoughts. Have a Merry Christmas!

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December 14th, 2014

12/14/2014

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My concerns with the science of forestry is intensifying as I read the variety of blogs that are becoming more prevalent on the internet. Most everything is focused on producing revenue and profit from the resources we can extract from our remaining forests. Debates and lawsuits highlight the concerns of groups and individuals that represent the two primary management philosophies, "Preservation" and "Conservation- Wise-Use". The truth is that both management concepts will provide a future condition that no one will accept. The time has arrived when we must re-orient our scientific approach to managing our remaining forested lands.
   Let's start by reviewing some simple facts that amplify our human connectedness and dependence on trees, forests. First, we know that to produce one pound of wood fiber requires 1.47 pounds of carbon dioxide, and during the production of the wood fiber, the tree releases 1.07 pounds of oxygen to the atmosphere. One single tree produces enough oxygen in 12 months to keep two humans alive for one year. We also know that the majority of clean water we humans require comes from our remaining forested lands, and that trees and plants scrub our air of the poisonous toxins our industries and urban areas are pouring into the air we breath. Trees and plants also make a significant contribution to the prevention of soil erosion and add required nutrients to soil productivity. In 2007 the Department of Agriculture published "The Report on Abuse" where a group of scientists and economists were assigned the task of determining the economic contribution trees, forests, make to the human environment. The report states that one single tree over a fifty year life cycle contributes almost $162,000.00 to our required environment. Compare this to the, at best, few hundred dollars in goods and services one tree can provide in economic value. Yet our focus remains on what we can take from the forests, not what forests need to remain healthy and vigorous.
     Next, we must recognize that the world population is expanding at a rate that will intensify the demands being placed on our remaining forests. October 2011 the world population exceeded seven billion and is expanding at almost 78 million every year. Couple these facts with the fact we are an aging population with the fastest growing age class now being the 90 plus group and it become obvious the principles of "preservation" have out-lived their consideration!
     The next fact we must consider is that our planets land mass was once 60% to 70% covered with forests, today it is slightly less than 30%, a loss of at least 50%. To continue to focus on what we can take from our forests, "Conservation-Wise Use", is also leading us to a future we cannot accept. WHAT WE HUMANS HAVE CREATED WE MUST HELP REVERSE! Our footprints have been so heavy, NATURE can not repair the environment without our help, MANAGEMENT! We must focus our efforts by defining goals and objectives that provide healthy, vigorous and diverse forest communities with unique scientific prescriptions that will produce the desired future conditions we humans require. The by-produces of "NATURE'S WAY" will be the goods and services that result from scientific application of management tools and techniques!

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Recognizing the uniqueness of the land, READING THE LAND!

12/5/2014

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Just returned from Scottsdale Arizona where we again were confronted with concerns over the management of our remaining forested lands. Several people expressed concerns for the large wildfires that continue to occur on the forested lands throughout the State. In fact there was a wildfire in the Flagstaff AZ. area at the time, that was producing considerable smoke in the Scottsdale area. We also received email information about the concerns the massive pine beetle epidemic is causing serious problems for the elk and elk hunters on the Beaverhead National Forest in Montana. The dead trees are now falling causing major changes in the travel ways for the elk. Obviously, the pine beetle epidemic has created conditions for significant increases in the number and severity of wildfires. These catastrophic events are highlighting the importance changing the way we manage our remaining forest covered lands. There is only one goal that can create a significant reduction in the risk of these unacceptable events; maximizing DIVERSITY. No longer can we ignore the reality that our forests are a mosaic of individual, unique communities with different site characteristics, different vegetative mixes and different organism relationships. I was explaining this reality to a person that had farmed all his life. I pointed out that a field is laid out in a 160 acre or so square to simplify fencing and treatment by the large mechanical equipment, that has replaced the labor needed in the past, but there are unique differences in the field, such as soil type, soil characteristics, moisture regimes, drainage patterns, etc. He responded, "certainly" and in fact today our equipment is computerized so we can put a disc in and the machine applies the required treatment to each acre. I told him this is great, but the important point is some person had to "read the land" to prepare the disc. This points out the job of the forest scientist and importance of changing the way we apply the tools and treatments to our forested lands. Observing and understanding the complexity of our forest communities, offers the best opportunity for maximizing DIVERSITY. As we become more and more ubanized, we are rapidly losing our ability to understand the relationships we share with all creatures and plants. Today, many young people, believe the food chain begins and ends at the local market. It is time we begin to teach our elimentary and intermediate students to observe and understand the complexity of NATURE and how connected and dependent we are on our surroundings! While I was writing this, the news was talking about new space travel developments that will allow us to move to other planets when our planet will no longer support life. Maybe this is the answer,but I believe there is much we can do to avoid this senerio! I need your help!!!

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