Forests, Carbon, Climate Change, and More (or Less)

Forests, Carbon, Climate Change, and More (or Less)

For some reason, the news cycle will bring together a number of articles that are related in some way or other.  I’m working under the assumption that the earth is warming up – I’m not going to argue whether it is man-made or natural (such as, the sun).  Most glaciers have lost significant amount of ice, just in my lifetime.  So yes the earth is warming.

Along with this warming, measured CO2 (carbon) has increased.  So the correlation between the increase in CO2 and warming is made.  As far as I know, no scientist is arguing otherwise.  They may argue cause and effect.  Studies on the financial impact of carbon is ongoing but enough governments accept it that we note financial trading of carbon impact is ongoing.

Our forests take in significant amount of carbon.  Recent studies suggest that 1/3 of all of our carbon is sequestered in our forests.  Forests soak up third of fossil fuel emissions: study  and  US Forest Service Finds that Forests Play Huge Role in Reducing Carbon and Higher Global Temps   So the management of our forests needs to give environmental issues even more consideration than in the past.

Furthermore, the effects of all of this carbon is negative to society and, more than likely, this societal cost is not recognized fully.  A recent study suggests our government’s estimate of the cost is significantly understated - see press release and links to study.  And one should also check this.

Oregon benefits significantly from our forests and timber harvesting.  One major benefit is revenue shared by the Federal government with the local counties for timber harvests.  

credit The Associated Press   

• Some Republicans in Congress want to increase logging in federal forests as a way to provide funds to local communities. That is just one idea offered as a substitute to the expiring county payments program that gave federal funds to counties. (AP)

A few years back the Federal government severely cut back on their timber harvests which put financial hardship on our counties.  Our representatives and senators have successfully argued for financial relief payments.  However, the battle lines are severely drawn in this difficult budget fight in DC.  Reps. Greg Walden, Peter DeFazio wade into treacherous waters to save county timber payments  I hope the environmental value of keeping/maintaining our forests gets considered in this debate.

Country's Biggest Timber Theft

Country’s Biggest Timber Theft

Logging company fined $100 million  Last week, Malaysian timber company, Concord Pacific, was sentenced to pay four forest tribes for environmental destruction in the first ruling of its kind for Papua New Guinea.  A search of illegal logging finds a number of hits on Google news, mostly in foreign countries and especially in rainforest regions.

One of the interesting developments is the DNA tracking of logs. “Australian researchers say DNA fingerprinting of lumber products can make it harder for illegal loggers to get away with destroying protected rainforests”  link.

Illegal logging happens here also but on a relatively smaller scale.  The biggest reason for small scale logging “errors” is a “misunderstanding” of the area being cut.  And if caught the usual compensation is the economic value of the board feet cut.  But that doesn’t replace the tree(s), at least, not for several generations.

Recently, there was a dispute between the owners of the land Subway is on and the folks at our Community Garden.  Apparently, based on some bad information some cottonwood trees on the Subway property were inappropriately cut down.  A settlement (which, as I understand, in the amount of $20,000) was made out of court.

Neighbor Paul Keller (contributer wild love affair) wrote me awhile back:

 If you didn't already know, the picture you have on your Blog's masthead is looking out at this country's largest timber theft.  Basically that entire clear cut on Huckleberry Mountain is an illegal timber sale. A logger contracted to do a small sale--at the end of Arrah Wanna Road.  And then he just kept cutting and cutting and cutting (as your photo verifies). (I actually know one of the timber fallers who was working for the outfit.)  By the time the authorities finally figured out what the company owner had done, it was too late. He'd already clear cut everything and sold the timber. It was the early 80s and however many hundreds of acres it was, it was the biggest timber theft ever in this country.  After his first hearing, the judge released the guy on bail.  (I can't remember his name---he lived in PDX.)   He then split the scene.  About five years later, the Forest Service Special Law Enforcement guy who had been assigned to the original case/investigation was on vacation up in Alaska fishing in some remote place. He walked into the town's only bar---and guess who's sitting there.  Yep. The law enforcement guy said hello _____ and he said hello _____ and the Law Enforcement guy pulled out his gun and arrested him.   It was big news in the papers.  I think the guy got six or seven years in the slammer---maybe more.

So go back and look at our masthead picture and one can clearly see where there was a clear cut on the lower half of the mountain across the valley.