The biggest problem with our forests? The U.S. Forest Service – Daily Montanan

The biggest problem with our forests? The U.S. Forest Service ...  Daily Montanan

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Sep 24, 2023 - 05:00
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The biggest problem with our forests? The U.S. Forest Service – Daily Montanan

The Importance of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Forest Management

The Forest Service and Forestry School researchers, funded by the Forest Service, continue to advocate for the idea that our forests are “unhealthy.” This approach reflects the “Father Knows Best” philosophy, where the agency and its researchers believe they possess the knowledge to restore the forest.

However, this perspective assumes that the forest is in need of repair.

The current issue with the Forest Service’s reliance on chainsaw medicine is that it considers anything that harms a tree (except a chainsaw) as undesirable.

The agency and its supporters resemble the snake oil salesmen of the past, promising that their logging practices can cure any forest ailment, regardless of whether the forest is actually sick or not.

The Evolutionary Role of Natural Factors

Chainsaw medicine treatments are purportedly aimed at reducing large, high-severity wildfires and helping trees withstand insects, drought, and disease. However, these factors have historically played a crucial role in maintaining “healthy” forest communities for thousands of years. They act as evolutionary agents, selecting trees that are best adapted to current conditions rather than past situations that no longer exist.

As poet Roberson Jeffers once wrote, “What but the wolf’s tooth whittled so fine. The fleet limbs of the antelope?”

Similarly, our forests rely on wildfires, droughts, insects, and disease to shape their resilience and ability to face present and future challenges. Just as wolves select the least fit elk or deer as their prey, these natural factors help improve the overall genetic health of tree species.

Unfortunately, the Forest Service lacks knowledge about which trees possess genetic or physical traits that enable them to survive these challenges. By implementing chainsaw medicine, they are essentially interfering with the process of evolution. This is a dangerous game to play, as numerous genetic studies have shown that rare genetic alleles provide resilience to any population, including forests. However, these features may only be present in one out of a hundred or more individuals. By removing a significant number of trees, the agency is degrading the forest’s resilience.

The Ecological Importance of Large Wildfires

A second issue with the current emphasis on logging for forest health is that large, high-severity wildfires create habitats for numerous species. Some biologists estimate that at least half of all wildlife depend on the snags resulting from these fires for their homes. The fallen snags in streams provide essential habitat for fish, while the remaining snags and downwood store carbon for centuries after a wildfire, drought, insect infestation, or disease outbreak.

In short, due to its bias towards industrial forestry, the Forest Service fails to see the forest ecosystem beyond individual trees. By focusing solely on individual trees, they overlook the long-term consequences of their chainsaw medicine program.

Promoting Resilience through Sustainable Forest Management

Given the climate changes we are currently experiencing, the key to increasing resilience in our forests is to allow natural evolution to take place. Our forest communities will naturally change and adapt to the current climate conditions, which may involve the loss of some trees. However, in the end, these forest communities will become stronger and better equipped to face future challenges.

In the meantime, the most effective way to protect communities is through home hardening measures, rather than relying on chainsaw medicine.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Targets Indicators

SDG 15: Life on Land
  • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
  • Target 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.
  • Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.
  • Indicator 15.2.1: Progress towards sustainable forest management.
  • Indicator 15.2.2: Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type.

SDG 13: Climate Action
  • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
  • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
  • Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
  • Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have communicated the establishment or operationalization of an integrated policy/strategy/plan which increases their ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development in a manner that does not threaten food production.

Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 15: Life on Land and SDG 13: Climate Action.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are:

– Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests.

– Target 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.

– Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

– Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators include:

– Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.

– Indicator 15.2.1: Progress towards sustainable forest management.

– Indicator 15.2.2: Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type.

– Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.

– Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have communicated the establishment or operationalization of an integrated policy/strategy/plan which increases their ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development in a manner that does not threaten food production.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Targets Indicators

SDG 15: Life on Land
  • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
  • Target 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.
  • Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.
  • Indicator 15.2.1: Progress towards sustainable forest management.
  • Indicator 15.2.2: Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type.

SDG 13: Climate Action
  • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
  • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
  • Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
  • Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have communicated the establishment or operationalization of an integrated policy/strategy/plan which increases their ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development in a manner that does not threaten food production.

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: dailymontanan.com

 

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