I think a scholarly review for Frontier in Ecology and the Environment would also be very useful. -Tim Nuttle
Maiken Winter wrote: > 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. >> >> > > -- --------------------------------- Tim Nuttle, PhD Research Assistant Professor Department of Biological Sciences University of Pittsburgh A234 Langley Hall 4249 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15260 USA ---------------------------------
