David Orr (the gene paddler) wrote, in reply to (7:16 PM 11/2/94) Jim T. Arnott >Thanks Jim, for your comment. But it seems you place an awful lot of value >in fast-growing tree species. What about maintaining native forests and >their own unique biological diversity? BC has (used to, anyway) some of >the most magnificent forests on Earth. Why mess with Mother Nature? David, this seems to me to be a critical issue. As I understand it, if the load of wood production can be shifted from native forests to plantations, then there will be a reduction of logging in native forests. I'm quite certain :-) you wouldn't have any objection to that. The emphasis on fast-growing tree species derives from a belief that, *all other things being equal*, a plantation stocked with a fast growing tree species will produce more product per unit hectare than one stocked with a slow growing species. Therefore fewer hectares of plantation will be required to produce society's requirements. This empowers us to leave more hectares of natural forest for other forest values. There are other reasons for which exotics species are preferred, for example, the insects and diseases native to a species are often in short supply in the new locale. I lack the most recent information on this (that can be interpreted as an invitation!), but plantations of eucalypts in Australia are often blighted with natural predators, with which eucalypt plantations in other continents do not have to contend. (I'd also like to throw in that I agree with your earlier expressions of our need to reduce consumption. I wonder if we're mature enough?) I like your last question - it has somewhat of a sting in the tail. It seems to me that society, doomed by its size and appetite, will mess with Mother Nature one way or another. I think that as forestry professionals, we are in a position to try to minimise the mess. Defining our role seems crucial at this point. We are not elected officials. Are we here to tell society what to do, or to guide society in its decision making, or merely to feed its appetites? Andrew. Andrew Robinson, Phone : + 1 612 625 5765 (work) Dept. of Forest Resources, : + 1 612 644 5512 (home) University of Minnesota, FAX : + 1 612 625 5212 115 Green Hall 1530 North Cleveland Ave. St Paul, 55108-6112, Mn, USA now hit d
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