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!!!
