What a great week of relaxation in the back country of Canada. Fantastic fishing and no phones or TV. Even had the rare privilege of seeing a large timber wolf on our way out this past Sunday. Brought back memories of working on the wolf project in northern Minnesota during 1969 and 1970. Spent many hours talking with the owners, John and Shannon, about John's experiences growing up in a family where the father was a professional trapper and the family's survival depended upon being able to understand the detail and complexity of their surroundings. Being able to see and recognize the many relationships that exist within the forest communities is the only way one can begin to understand the behavior, habits and travel patterns of the variety of creatures that occupy these communities. It is a skill developed only by empirical observation, the same way our American Indians did. This wisdom, coupled with the scientific knowledge of forest land management, is the only salvation available to us to maintain or hopefully improve the valuable contribution our remaining forests provide to the human environment.
About a week ago I had an interesting discussion with Alexander Watson, CEO of Open Forests, an International consulting firm out of Bonn, Germany. I met Alexander over the internet and was pleased to learn of his work and interest in some of my concepts of forest management. The company has been doing a lot of work in Central America and South America where deforestation is advancing much to rapidly. Money from the large timber companies has been enticing the indigenous people to sell large acreage of forested lands and then clear more forest lands for agricultural purposes.
Our world population is increasing at more than 75 million every year,and so to expect a reduction in demands placed on our remaining forested lands is, obviously unrealistic. We may be able to slow deforestation slightly, but as the population grows, the demand for land and food will require a continuation of an unacceptable rate of deforestation world wide. There is but one option left, intense management of our remaining forested lands with the focus on the maintenance and improvement of forest health and diversity! We must manage these communities to a state where they are able to contribute, more than they have contributed in the past, to the human environment. Everyone of us must pull together to initiate the required changes for the future. These adjustments cannot wait for tomorrow!!
About a week ago I had an interesting discussion with Alexander Watson, CEO of Open Forests, an International consulting firm out of Bonn, Germany. I met Alexander over the internet and was pleased to learn of his work and interest in some of my concepts of forest management. The company has been doing a lot of work in Central America and South America where deforestation is advancing much to rapidly. Money from the large timber companies has been enticing the indigenous people to sell large acreage of forested lands and then clear more forest lands for agricultural purposes.
Our world population is increasing at more than 75 million every year,and so to expect a reduction in demands placed on our remaining forested lands is, obviously unrealistic. We may be able to slow deforestation slightly, but as the population grows, the demand for land and food will require a continuation of an unacceptable rate of deforestation world wide. There is but one option left, intense management of our remaining forested lands with the focus on the maintenance and improvement of forest health and diversity! We must manage these communities to a state where they are able to contribute, more than they have contributed in the past, to the human environment. Everyone of us must pull together to initiate the required changes for the future. These adjustments cannot wait for tomorrow!!
