George Wuerthner's "On the Range"
On the Range
Temporary Roads Are Like Low Fat Ice Cream
Temporary Roads are being promoted as an alternative to regular logging roads, with some suggesting that temporary roads are somehow environmentally benign. Well they are not. [more]
On the Range with George Wuerthner
Who Will Speak For the Forests?
Is it unreasonable to ask that anyone using public forests for profit leave them unimpaired? [more]
Wuerthner On the Range
Questions About Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship
The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Proposal on the Seeley Lake Ranger District of the Lolo National Forest has gotten a lot of positive praise from all involved, including many environmental organization. However, in their rush to reach consensus, many fundamental underlying assumptions about the need for forest restoration, whether logging can achieve the goals, the effectiveness of fuels thinning, as well as the environmental and economic viability of the proposal are not critically evaluated by plan proponents. [more]
Guest Commentary: George Wuerthner's "On the Range"
Context Needed in Beetle DiscussionIn the November 17th Science Section of The New York Times there was an article by Jim Robbins about the current pine beetle event occurring in the West.
There was a lot of good factual information in the piece about pine beetles and their basic ecology, and on the whole, Robbins did a good job of describing some of the concerns that people have about the beetle situation. Nevertheless, the tone and implied message conveyed an overly pessimistic and negative picture of beetles as well as wildfires. It was not so much that it had a lot of false statements as much as the way it was written. Taken together the various quotes, and background in the article leaves one with the perception that somehow beetles, as well as wildfires are “out of control” in the West's ecosystems.
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Guest Column: George Wuerthner's "On the Range"
Wilderness—A Great HealingThere are many good reasons given for establishing more designated wilderness in the United States. Wilderness designation preserves important ecological features and ecological processes. They can serve as fountainheads for our rivers and drinking supplies. Wilderness lands can provide us a place to recreation, relax, reflect, physically and mentally challenge ourselves. These are all valid reasons for preserving wilderness, and any of them alone would be sufficient reason to support wildlands preservation.
But there is yet another reason to support wilderness designation for the country.
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