I'm in agreement with Tim; I would like to see this discussion opened up to a wide audience. Not that 'Blogs represent a limited forum but may be ephemeral as web pages and urls tend to evaporate into the 'error 404' ether. Also I think that the peer reviewed print media may yet hold greater credibility... Of course concurrent or parallel exposure should also be considered.
I would be willing to contribute to such an undertaking from a biogeochemical/carbon cycle point of view. David Bryant [EMAIL PROTECTED] 978-697-6123 On Feb 9, 2007, at 1:44 PM, Tim Nuttle wrote: > 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 > ---------------------------------
