Forest and wildland fires historically have moved species
Forest and wildland fires historically have moved species
21 October 2013
published by www.statesmanjournal.com
USA — Forest and wildland fires have taken a toll in Oregon and California during the summer of 2013.
Next year, imagine members of Cascadia Forest Defenders climbing the old growth trees of Yosemite National Park, looking to the horizon and seeing nothing but dead, charred trees. They would see no wildlife, as it had left ahead of the fire or stayed and been incinerated. All brush is burned or turned to ashes.
Based upon their published concerns of recent years, their efforts might be to protect the wildlife (that has moved to another area) and arguing about how much carbon has been released to affect global warming.
If this group had existed in 1840 or 1868, they could have seen just such a sight in what is now the Elliott State Forest of Coos County. Currently, Cascadia Forest Defenders has a lawsuit pending that would stop all logging because of threatened and endangered species.
This group fails to acknowledge that the numerous natural fires on the 1700s and 1800s drove these same endangered species to live in other areas; and that the currently protected birds are ones that moved back into emerging new growth timber since 1868.
