MitchFriedman’s Recent Comments

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  a word in edgewise

  I want to stick my nose back in here to offer three quick thoughts:
    First, "hi" to Karen Wood, who I've not seen for 15 years. Great points about different circumstances in different regions.
   Second, to fsseth, please reread my article. I firmly believe the Forest Service was an arrogant and out of control agency causing great destruction throughout recent decades (and still in some areas). Persistent conservation opposition, along with changes in scientific knowledge, technology and markets converge to offer new common ground and opportunities. Changing tactics in recognition of new realities is anything but fickle.
    Lastly, to Greywulf, your points are all theoritically sound. But there are also clear limitations on how a process can best represents the national interest, level the power playing field, incporate sound information, and operate with any efficiency. Trust is a surrogate for all this process. When trust breaks down we wage war. That's fine; I'm a warrior myself. But no war should be permanent. Right now collaboration is working, trust is building, success is occuring on the ground in multiple locations. Let's go where it leads takes us.On It's time for conservationists to collaborate with an agency they've long demonized posted 3 years, 8 months ago 103 Responses

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  response to atreyger

  It's remarkable what modern mills can do, converting trees with tops as small as 4" diameter into boards. But its certainly true that much of the material is more suited to biomass or chips. There's ongoing debate, in Congress, communities and among conservationists, on the question of subsidizing infrasucture (such as biomass plants) to create markets for this materials. I noted one example (Gila NF) in the article.
     In reply to Snoqualman, other than some basic mistruths (far from needing more roads, we've found thinning can actually fund removal of existing roads)and mischaracterizations of science and empirical experience, the rest of what he wrote is same old, same old. He might even have plagarized it from things I myself have written (and believed) over a decade ago. Live and learn.On It's time for conservationists to collaborate with an agency they've long demonized posted 3 years, 9 months ago 103 Responses