Lisai, I've always liked the philosophical views of forests and applying those to actual forest management. The problem is- how do you get others to go along? The number of field foresters and forest policy makers in the USA at state and federal levels who understand such thinking is absurdly low- a handful maybe.
To get such sophisticated visions of forestry out of the pure thinking phase and into the real world will take tough political battles- but I fear that too few of the philosophers are willing to do that. Here in Massachusetts- the forest policy wars have been raging for many years- too many people benefit from the status quo which tolerates high grading and now is intensely promoting clearcutting- supported by many groups who should know better. Joe ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Cc: Edward Frank Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 7:17 PM Subject: [ENTS] Re: "Wilderness Comes Home - Rewilding the Northeast" Ed, Also consider adding "Wild Foresting: Practicing Nature's Wisdom" ed Alan Drengson and Duncan Taylor to the ENTS booklist. An excerpt from a chapter by Ralph Metzner: "When bioregionalists and deep ecology supporters advocate abandoning a homocentric perspective where everything is seen from our hopelessly muddled and arrogant human perspective , they advocate an ecocentric (ecosystem-centered) or biocentric (life-centered) perspective instead....The bioregional vision is that humans need to humbly learn reinhabitation - dwelling in a place in a balanced way, with respect for the stories of the other inhabitants." and from Jim Drescher who suggests 5 management principles: 1.maximize canopy height 2. keep canopy closure ... to the natural range in the mature Acadian Forest. The natural canopy closure , 65%-80% closed, has evolved in synchronization with the existing biodiversity. 3. Maintain volumes and distribution of dead wood very close to those found in the old-growth reference points 4. don't do anything to reduce species diversity 5.maintain connectivity, or enhance it where it has been diminished He elaborates on a buddhist perspective and states: "What is required ,then,of our forestry practices is to reveal or uncover that underlying health, beauty and wealth within our own minds and within the forsest itself. Rather than fixing a problem, the challenge becomes one of unwrapping our direct experience of the undeniable isness or sacredness of the forest." Lisai ---- Edward Frank <[email protected]> wrote: > ENTS, > > I added a link to this book of the ENTS Bookstore on the ENTS website. > > Ed > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Joseph Zorzin > To: ENTS > Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 7:39 AM > Subject: [ENTS] "Wilderness Comes Home - Rewilding the Northeast" > > > "Wilderness Comes Home - Rewilding the Northeast", edited by Christopher McGrory Klyza and with a chapter by Bob Leverett! > > This book is about a decade old- and somehow I never saw it until recently though I've read bits and pieces of writings by Bob. > > Chapter 3 is written by Bob, "Old-Growth Forests of the Northeast". > > I'm sure many/most of you are familiar with the book but if not, I strongly recommend it. > > Bob's chapter is incredibly good! When I read a book- I have my red pen with me and I underline the good stuff and add check marks for very good stuff and stars for super good stuff. This chapter almost wore out my pen! > > When I get time I'm going to pass along some quotes from the chapter- for now I'll offer one, perhaps the best: > > "No reservoir of indigenous wisdom about the Northeast forests flows from European Americans, and that which existed in Native American culture has been irretrievably lost." > > That's a gem! > ***** > Joe > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
