At 01:24 PM 4/4/98 -0800, you wrote: >It seems, according to your definition, that we can never "use" a natural >resource because it becomes artificial the second we touch it. It just >doesn't seem reasonable to me to say that a piece of lumber is "artificial". >Humans are natural and when employed as labour, they are a resource. > >Cheers > >Patrick Moore, Greenspirit >http://www.greenspirit.com >May the Forest be With You > Let try to clarify my position. I use the word "artificial" to describe something that is "made by humans." For example, a rock (a natural resource) does not become an artificial resource just because an aborigine touched it when it was thrown at a bird. However, if the aborigine took a rock and worked it to made a spear point, that spear point is said to be "made by humans" and in my opinion, then becomes an "artificial resource" (even though it was made from a natural resource.) I think my dad (who is an archaeologist) would agree that many rocks he finds may have been moved my humans but he and his colleagues do not classify them as "made by humans." However, they do agree that the spear points and arrowheads (etc.) were made by humans. (I have assumed we both agree that a piece of lumber is "made by humans.") I believe the definition of "artificial" is: 1 : humanly contrived often on a natural model : MAN-MADE <an artificial limb> <artificial diamonds> 2 a : having existence in legal, economic, or political theory b : caused or produced by a human and especially social or political agency <an artificial price advantage> <artificial barriers of discrimination -- R. C. Weaver> (Keep up your good work Patrick. I enjoy browsing your web page) ================================ >Dear all, >I prefer planted forests and not artificial forests. >Is lettuce natural? >Usually, it is planted but is not artificial. >Regards, >Erich Schaitza Dear Erich: To each his own. There are about 134 web pages using the term "artificial forests." http://altavista.digital.com/cgi-bin/query?pg=q&stq=140&what=web&kl=XX&q=%22 artificial+forest%22&navig10.x=10&navig10.y=5 There are also 145 web pages using the term "man-made forest" http://altavista.digital.com/cgi-bin/query?pg=q&what=web&kl=XX&q=%22man-made +forest%22+-fires&search.x=50&search.y=11 There are also 363 web pages using the term "planted forests" http://altavista.digital.com/cgi-bin/query?pg=q&what=web&kl=XX&q=%22planted+ forest%22&search.x=38&search.y=8 But in contrast, there are 3057 web pages use the term "tree farms" http://altavista.digital.com/cgi-bin/query?pg=q&what=web&kl=XX&q=%22tree+far ms%22&search.x=42&search.y=9 I think many environmentalists prefer the term "tree farm" to the terms "planted forests" or "man-made forest." By the way, what term do you prefer instead of "artificial regeneration?" I personally prefer to use the word "plantation" to describe "man-made forests" but the Japanese often use the equivalent to "man-made forest" or "artificial forest" to describe tree plantations. http://www.cpami.gov.tw/ymsnp/eng/e_plant.htm#artifical_forest http://www.fs.kochi-u.ac.jp/forengin/tab871.htm http://kikori.uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp/Tour/Jyugei/kouyou.html On a percentage basis they have more plantations than anyone in the world. http://www.maff.go.jp/abst/form1/10ab/42c.html David South School of Forestry Auburn University, AL 36849-5418 A member of the Forester's Chapter for ZPG http://www.forestry.auburn.edu/people/faculty//biology/south/zpg/forester.html dsouth@forestry.auburn.edu 334-844-1022 334-844-1084 (FAX) As always, views expressed here are my own (and I am not speaking on the behalf of others). I use only 100% post-consumer paper in my home printer. (discarded used office paper printed on one side) ========================================================================= The world population is expected to double by the year 2100. Therefore the annual demand for wood for energy (etc.) will increase and might double (to more than 7 billion m3/yr). To provide plantation wood for people in the future, support the planting of trees on pastureland. Set a goal of converting 8 million ha of pastureland/yr for the next 55 years. This would increase tree plantations to about 5% of the world's landbase. ========================================================================= Support Zero Population Growth for the United States http://www.igc.apc.org/zpg/index.html
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