Redwood Reader

211.
The importance of seeing the whole picture in land management can hardly be better recognized than in two articles in different papers on the same day. The first article tells of environmental groups buying timberland and trying to operate on a sustained yield in Mendocino. They have some heavy monetary obligations and will have to cut to meet them. Their main stated purpose was to improve the forest as habitat for endangered species, especially coho and Northern spotted owls. They are also seeking to limit development in the urban interdace, which degrades habitat.
Tree Huggers Embrace Ecofriendly Logging Tim Reiterman, August 6, 2996
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-ecologging6aug06,1,7107030.story?coll=la-news-environment
The second story concerns barred owls entry into spotted owl territory and appears to be a case of a better suited natural immigrant out hustling the diminishing native owls and pushing them to marginal areas. They just appear to be better suited to conditions. As they are larger, it is possible it is a matter of not enough old growth but they may just be bigger and better at what they do. Hunting the barred owls to save the spotted owls is mentioned but we have to wonder if replacement is something that is going to happen anyway, as the spotted owls are in decline even in their best habitats. Diminishing spotted owl numbers could put the entire Northwest Forest Agreement at risk, which cost many jobs and is still a contentious point to many. But the dimished logging has benefitted the forests in many ways, including rebuilding the glomalin base and improving water quality.
There Goes the Neighborhood
John Driscoll www.times-standard.com Aug 8, 2006
This is why a general knowledge of glomalins effect on general forest conditions is so critical, so people can make informed decisions. The environmental loggers are not protecting the essence of the forest and are protecting a vanishing species which could happen under the best circumstances. They are taking on financial risk without protecting the basis of sustainability, although they may improve water quality to some degree and so favor coho. While we agree preservation alone does not make great forests, managing for carbon storage is beneficial to all the natural systems and helps the general environment. Payment for carbon storage must become part of the economic picture in order to restore functional forests or we will be on the cycle of cut and cut again like the East Coast, without the advantage of summer rain.
Another Times-Standard article and an editorial earlier in the week told of new management at the owners of the Klamath dams, and their willingness to look at removal since Warren Buffet bought the outfit. Oregon is included in the plan and alternative power generation for 70,000 homes there is part of the package. California has already voted money and sampled some of the sediment for toxicity built up behind the dams. It is a long way from done but it good to see progress. The editorial says it could be the environmental showpiece of our time.
Positive Momentum John Dricoll August 3, 2006 www.times-standard.com
Dam removal could be a historic opportunity August 5, 2006 www.times-standard.com
Northcoast forests and rivers are recovering but still suffer from a million cuts. Development, lightning fires, sudden oak death and redwood poaching are all in the paper this week. Nature will find its own level and may not be what we hope for. And philosophers remind us only God has the power to change things and then change them back to what was before.