Cliff Duke's offer to post a summary of the ethanol string on ESA's blog = (see below) is an excellent idea. Let's do it. I can't take the lead on = this, but would be happy to help out, especially in summarizing concerns = related to impacts on biodiversity. ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Cliff Duke<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>=20 To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>=20 Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 1:02 PM Subject: Re: Energy Biofuels Brainstorming then evaluating for policy = development Stubbling on marginal issues Re: switchgrass concerns
Not to steal any thunder from ECOLOG, but I'd be glad to post a couple of contributions from this thread on ESA's blog, ESA News and Views. Perhaps a couple of you might be willing to synthesize some of the thoughts that have appeared here into pieces of 1000-1500 words = length? If you're not familiar with ESA N&V yet, check out = www.esa.org/esablog<http://www.esa.org/esablog>; contributions can be sent to [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>.=20 Let me know if you have any questions.=20 -- Cliff Duke, Coordinator, ESA News and Views -----Original Message----- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Wayne Tyson Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 3:11 PM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Energy Biofuels Brainstorming then evaluating for policy development Stubbling on marginal issues Re: switchgrass concerns At 12:29 AM 2/3/2007, Palmer, Mike wrote: >Anyone who has set, managed, or fought fires in switchgrass can = attest=20 >to this, and fire danger must be considered. >However, it is a little bit of a red herring. A hay meadow (with=20 >switchgrass as one component) will be mowed late in the season, so=20 >there will not be a lot of standing fuel when there is the most fire risk. Mike and Forum: As one who has fought stubble fires as well as forest fires, there = does not have to be a LOT of standing fuel to carry fire. Of course, this = is a marginal issue, and as such should not be factored into any reasoned analysis upon which policy conclusions might be based. The CRUCIAL fundamental that is commonly overlooked in systems analysis is that = the weakest link GOVERNS ABSOLUTELY. This does not mean that such = marginal issues should not be considered at all--only that their marginal = nature needs to be recognized and evaluated during the evaluation phase. I picked this issue as an excellent example of a brainstorming item--which always should be encouraged--and to suggest how evaluation of the products of the brainstorming phase might be initiated. Of course, I, nor anyone else, should have the final word in the = evaluation phase, and when proper discipline is observed in the development of system (or policy) design, minority analyses should be included in the final project documentation. I hope that this forum will continue the excellent line of = brainstorming thought, and to proceed to a well-documented analysis and set of = policy recommendations that can be a potent means of affecting policy in the larger contexts of various levels of government and public interest action. This can be done by organizing the content of the emails on this subject, participating in a disciplined analytical procedure, and focusing the group's energy with vigor in the right places. You can expect that those feeding at the switchgrass trough, however, will be = in vigorous opposition--that's just one reason why the ideas must be allowed to flow freely, disciplined analysis carried out, and the = final report include minority statements (if the minority cares to include them). But the most important thing is that critical thinking is not = sacrificed to political maneuvering. Respectfully submitted, WT Mike: I will be interested in your further thoughts and corrections on the "red herring" point.
