Nevergreen
Posted: August 22, 2016Source: The Forest Blog By Russ Vaagen
The current trajectory of our forests isn’t the beautiful, healthy evergreen forests most people think. Our National Forests are dying and burning at an alarming rate. Regardless if you believe in climate change or if it’s human caused, the fact remains that our forests aren’t green. They stand to get much worse before getting any better.
This story by Chad Hanson highlights the problem between those that want to engage in finding solutions and those who want to create false realities. I must admit I haven’t read any other of his writings. This opinion piece makes it seem as though dying forests aren’t a problem and certainly aren’t an indicator of needed change.
These images show what happens when we don’t actively manage forests. Both are next to major open road systems.
This is an example of an unhealthy forest with dead and dying debris primed for a stand replacement fire. This forest could be thinned and most likely spared mother nature’s resetbutton
Morel mushroom picking is one of the benefits post-fire. However, a stand replacement fire isn’t necessary for quality mushroom pickingconditions.
These are stark examples of why it’s so important for us to come together and solve these problems collaboratively based on shared interests rather than supporting historic positions. Forests don’t have to die and burn at the current rate, especially where we have roads and agreement on proper management areas.
Let me be clear. Fires will happen. Appropriate management won’t eliminate fires, but it will reduce their severity and size. The safety and effectiveness of firefighters will improve if they are in areas where fuel loads are not unnaturally high.
We need to make serious changes so we can get back to having healthy evergreen forests.