I keep alert to many of the forestry related issues by reviewing material being posted on linkedin. Several folks have responded to news articles on this summer's wildfire frequency and severity. Many, including the media are trying to compare the fire season with past years and factors such as reductions in timber harvesting, climate change, frequency of ignitions, law suits and so on. This is all designed to try to determine what factors influence total acres burned.
This all makes for interesting reading, but the truth is the science of forestry still focuses management on the production of resources from the forests rather than managing the condition of the individual forest communities or eco-systems if you prefer. I sincerely believe that we can reduce the potential for these catastrophic events if we re-focus our management efforts to maintain and improve the forest conditions by emphasizing health and diversity of individual forest communities. Yes, this means more intensive management, but driven by entirely different management goals. It is also critical that we begin educating our western society to the importance of living in balance with our natural surroundings.
Iris and I are about to initiate a project with our local college, to develop environmental education materials that will incorporate the Traditional Knowledge's of our indigenous people. We are excited and hoping to develop partnerships with others as the project progresses. We are truly connected and dependent upon the relationships available only through our natural surroundings. Continuation on the path we have followed the past 100 years will eventually destroy our remaining forests and ourselves. It is time to assist our youth in understanding and appreciating the importance of respecting Mother Earth.
This all makes for interesting reading, but the truth is the science of forestry still focuses management on the production of resources from the forests rather than managing the condition of the individual forest communities or eco-systems if you prefer. I sincerely believe that we can reduce the potential for these catastrophic events if we re-focus our management efforts to maintain and improve the forest conditions by emphasizing health and diversity of individual forest communities. Yes, this means more intensive management, but driven by entirely different management goals. It is also critical that we begin educating our western society to the importance of living in balance with our natural surroundings.
Iris and I are about to initiate a project with our local college, to develop environmental education materials that will incorporate the Traditional Knowledge's of our indigenous people. We are excited and hoping to develop partnerships with others as the project progresses. We are truly connected and dependent upon the relationships available only through our natural surroundings. Continuation on the path we have followed the past 100 years will eventually destroy our remaining forests and ourselves. It is time to assist our youth in understanding and appreciating the importance of respecting Mother Earth.
