Renewable Resources

The video "Seeing the Forest" (https://vimeo.com/125160364) was a fantastically successful story of the evolution of a large forest in Oregon, the Siuslaw National Forest. This forest was used for timber after WWII and for 40 years old growth forests were decimated for their quality wood. The foresters saw the trees as nothing more than a renewable resource. This trend continued until a spotted owl ruling passed. The salmon population had declined as well, and it was clear that the whole ecosystem surrounding the Siuslaw was suffering. Judges ruled that the forest could no longer be used for logging. What ensued was a battle between environmentalists who were in favor of the ruling and loggers who were affected by the shut-down of the logging industry in the area. During this battle the federal government stepped in and then president Bill Clinton passed the Northwest Forest Plan which dedicated the area around the streams with salmon a habitat reserve and left some land open

1. The video "Secret Lives of Mountain Lions" gave some insight into the social nature of mountain lions. It once previously thought that these mountain cats are solitary creatures, but recent footage that tracked the lives of a small family proved otherwise. What was shown is actually a more affectionate and caring lifestyle than anyone had previously thought. This relationship is important because it is possibly one of the reasons the species has avoided extinction. As it is, less than 1 in 5 kittens survive long enough to reproduce and it seems one for the crucial pieces of survival is the care the mother takes with her offspring. The video also shows random acts of kindness such as sharing food with a male (the father) and the mother adopting an orphan kitten. 2. I did learn something new from this video. I learned that mountain lions share the position at the top of the food chain with things like wolves and humans and the mountain lion babies are vulnerable to predat

1. For as long as I can remember, it has been taught that we should all try to prevent forest fires. The Smokey Bear campaign has drilled it into our heads that fires are bad. I'm not planning on changing my actions, I have no intention of being careless with fire, but it seems the propaganda has gone too far and made fire the enemy. I don't think I would consider myself an alarmist, as I have seen and heard a bit about controlled burns and I understand forest fires are essential to the health and rejuvenation of the natural ecosystem. I think the alarmist perspective might be helpful if you live in an area where forest fires can run rampant, like in the Sierras where the tree mortality rate is high. 2. The ecologist perspective is that fires are good and essential to a healthy, diverse forest. Fires help regenerate native plants, which in turn helps keep a balance among plant and animal communities. An example of this is the fir tree which has been allowed to grow up and ta

1. Getting ready for wildfire is an unfortunate reality for people who live in and around forests, but very necessary in case of emergency. There are three steps you can take to prepare for a wildfire. The first is to remove dead and dying trees to about 100 feet from a home or building. Dead pine trees and pine needles act as fuel for fires so it's best to remove it before it is too late. The second step is to pay attention to local and state media like the news, twitter, radio, etc, and be aware of any current wildfire threats that could affect your area. The third step is to be prepared to evacuate, especially during the summer months when the chance of wildfire is at its height. Fires can spread quickly so being ready to leave your home may be a life or death situation. 2. Bark beetles are a common insect that have inhabited forest habitats for many thousands of years. Their populations are kept in check by weather, but over the last few years their population has exploded an