Essays Contents
Trees
June 25, 2023
"Healthy Forests Restoration Act"
report in Whitehouse archives
report in Whitehouse archives
Quoted from the report:
"On December 3, 2003, President Bush signed into law the
"Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003" to reduce the threat
of destructive wildfires while upholding environmental standards and encouraging early public input during review and planning processes.
"The legislation is based on sound science and helps further the
President's Healthy Forests Initiative pledge to:
-- care for America's forests and rangelands,
-- reduce the risk of catastrophic fire to communities,
-- help save the lives of firefighters and citizens,
-- and protect threatened and endangered species.
"The Healthy Forests Restoration Act:
-- Strengthens public participation in
-- developing high priority forest health projects;
-- Reduces the complexity of environmental analysis allowing federal land
agencies to use the best science available to actively manage land under
their protection;
-- Provides a more effective appeals process encouraging early public
participation in project planning;
-- and Issues clear guidance for court action against forest health projects.
"The Administration and a bipartisan majority in Congress supported the legislation and are joined by a variety of environmental conservation
groups."
"Fools & Dreamers" (Full Documentary)
video of Hugh Wilson's work
The incredible story of how degraded gorse-infested farmland
has been regenerated back into beautiful New Zealand native
forest over the course of 30 years.
wikipedia: gorse
"The genus comprises about 20 species of thorny evergreen shrubs in
the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae.
"Gorse is closely related to the brooms and like them has green stems
and very small leaves and is adapted to dry growing conditions.
However it differs in its extreme thorniness, the shoots being
modified into branched thorns 1 to 4 centimetres (1⁄2–1+1⁄2 inches) long,
which almost wholly replace the leaves as the plant's functioning
photosynthetic organs.
"The leaves of young plants are trifoliate, but in mature plants they
are reduced to scales or small spines. All the species have yellow
flowers, generally showy, some with a very long flowering season.
"In many areas of North America (notably California and Oregon),
southern South America, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii
the common gorse, introduced as an ornamental plant or hedge,
has become an invasive species owing to its aggressive seed dispersal;
it has proved very difficult to eradicate and detrimental in native habitats.
Common gorse is also an invasive species
in the montane grasslands of Horton Plains National Park in Sri Lanka."
A healthy forest is not a trash heap of dead materials.
Virgin forests... are impacted by many events... and pests.
We need to manage them... to ensure their best health.
Invasive plants must be recognized and removed if necessary.
Debris from floods and fires... removed and healed.
Here's something that could be done...
Biologists and trained forest managers could begin marking dead and
diseased trees and underbrush... for controlled harvesting...
in all our National Forests and Parks.
With as little disturbance as possible...
the forests would be mapped, marked, and worked.
Marked paths and rescue stations should be built throughout.
Unusable trees could be laid down on either side of a path.
The ATV path would be used as access to forestry workers.
Once a section is worked and debris hauled off...
wildlife should be supported with nuts, berries, greenery, and ponds...
after all, animal foraging fields once included much larger areas.
Nothing will ever really return to its original balanced state...
where entire states were open for animal foraging...
and predators were in balance with other wildlife.
And so... with our best knowledge... we can provide for those losses.
A designated use for each tree removed would be noted.
Then... these marked sections of forest given to removal teams...
contracted... at no cost... to remove the marked materials...
and to sell appropriately... or to mill for lumber or firewood.
Thus... the forests get maintained... and cleaned up...
with the oversight by forestry managers and biologists.
No healthy living tree should be downed as long as our forests
are full of naturally downed and dried lumber.
Houses can be built with hempcrete... that lasts forever... and insulates.
Wood products can be recycled... run through sanders...
and used for smaller, less important projects... or furniture.
And the same should go for all earth's natural resources...
what CAN be replaced with a sustainable option... SHOULD.
There are several patents for electro-magnetic power generators
being held by the government in the name of national interest
and kept off the market... perhaps because of a "petrol dollar" policy.
There would still be a market for oil and gas products...
but it would not be burned up in the millions of barrels per day.
There could also be a market where urban landowners could list any
tree to be removed... after a storm... or other reasons...
and tree removing teams could mill... cut for firewood...
or sell to companies for other products... similarly to metal recycling.
As long as there is a possible use... it shouldn't go into a landfill.
No more clear-cutting whole sections of healthy forests.
We need to stand back and take a look at a planned ideal
of what a healthy ecosystem for all living things... would look like.
We could get some pointers... from Hugh Wilson... in New Zealand...
who has struck that happy meeting place of nature... and mankind.
We could also get much knowledge... from our native American tribes.
The people of the United States should give a great gift
to all of the native tribes within our borders... that gift being...
a Tribal Museum at the entrance to their tribal land...
designed and built in coordination with each of the tribes.
The museums would display the history of the tribe...
tribal customs... crafts... language... migratory pattern...
for tourists... who buy things for momentos... or personal use...
and want to discover our unique native peoples.
They could even buy a book telling the history of each tribe...
It would preserve for the world... our wonderful heritage.
And... though it would be run by National Park guides...
all the proceeds would go to the tribe for designated projects...
for housing... meeting halls... wells... tribal barns... etc.
The NP managers would ensure that money is handled as planned...
and not mishandled by tribal gangs... or corrupted leadership.
"Fools & Dreamers" (Full Documentary)
video of Hugh Wilson's work
The incredible story of how degraded gorse-infested farmland
has been regenerated back into beautiful New Zealand native
forest over the course of 30 years.