Thanks for the idea, Cliff. It would be great if a summary were posted on a place accessable to all kinds of ecologists. In addition, I would suggest to also try to send the article to newspapers, to also inform the general public that do not have access to or know of the ESA blog. There are a lot of people out there that are better informed on this subject than myself. But if nobody volunteers, I could do the summary next month. But I would be happy not to, if somebody with more expertice in this area wants to take the lead. Maiken
> 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 ----- > From: Cliff Duke<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> > 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]>. > > Let me know if you have any questions. > > -- 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 > >to this, and fire danger must be considered. > >However, it is a little bit of a red herring. A hay meadow (with > >switchgrass as one component) will be mowed late in the season, so > >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. >
