SUSTAINABILITY!
Two days ago I received an article entitled, "Tracking Forest Sustainability to Meet US and International Goals". It presented the core of the USDA, Forest Service mission and the development of tools and data to support this mission. As I read the article, I became concerned about the lack of understanding the forest scientists continue to display about the vital dependency our life systems require from our remaining forested lands. I was pleased to see the rate of deforestation on our North American continent has apparently slowed and the acres of forest cover has remained fairly stable over the past 50 years however, worldwide data still places deforestation as one of the top environmental issues we face for the future. The article made it quite clear the driving force behind the Forest Service mission is sustainability, which sound fine until you analyze what is meant by sustainability! The examples provided, definitely indicate the focus of sustainability is a sustainable flow of products and services from the remaining forests. Having put much of my time into observing and studying the complexity of our remaining forests, I have reached several conclusions that, I believe necessitate significant changes in current forest science. Without these changes, I believe serious problems will threaten the future of our life systems on planet Earth!
First, I believe the complexity of our natural world has been revealed in far more detail by our scientific knowledge today but, remains almost beyond human comprehension or concern. I believe that when we begin to appreciate the magnitude of this complex story of creation, the over-whelming element that becomes highlighted is the diversity that exists within our natural systems within the Universal community, Earth community and Human community. The other obvious fact is that our intimate relationship with Earth has been lost through the influence of our shift to the industrial revolution and the advancement of science and technology. We view Mother Earth as a source of natural resources, recreation opportunities and wood products not as the source of the sustenance of all life systems on our planet. It is evident we humans now have the capability of making life and death decisions about the future of our Universal and Earth communities. We have reached a point where we must call time-out and, make some tough decisions. Is the question of economics and greed, to continue to be more important than providing for the sustenance of our life systems and the human community in the future? Dr. Thomas Berry suggests that, " Our Earth community and Human community must go forward as a single sacred community or both will suffer disaster". Dependency on science and technology will only result in the acceleration of the destruction of our vital natural world. There must be a better way!
First, I believe the complexity of our natural world has been revealed in far more detail by our scientific knowledge today but, remains almost beyond human comprehension or concern. I believe that when we begin to appreciate the magnitude of this complex story of creation, the over-whelming element that becomes highlighted is the diversity that exists within our natural systems within the Universal community, Earth community and Human community. The other obvious fact is that our intimate relationship with Earth has been lost through the influence of our shift to the industrial revolution and the advancement of science and technology. We view Mother Earth as a source of natural resources, recreation opportunities and wood products not as the source of the sustenance of all life systems on our planet. It is evident we humans now have the capability of making life and death decisions about the future of our Universal and Earth communities. We have reached a point where we must call time-out and, make some tough decisions. Is the question of economics and greed, to continue to be more important than providing for the sustenance of our life systems and the human community in the future? Dr. Thomas Berry suggests that, " Our Earth community and Human community must go forward as a single sacred community or both will suffer disaster". Dependency on science and technology will only result in the acceleration of the destruction of our vital natural world. There must be a better way!
