What's there to wonder about, German? I never said that logging is a cure all. I wonder about you that you wonder about me.
People indeed do have different ideas on managment, the science of it as well as the political, human side of it. There are different interests that use the Pine Barrens. This is where consensus building comes in.
My seeming enthusiasm about logging is simply that I am convinced that the leave it alone philosophy of Thoreau is destroying the forest, just as did the lumber barons. I am glad to see that people are finally seeing the light. What I've been stating is general principles. Each management area is different, has different potential, and can be used in different ways. My concern is that the Pine Barrens management and policy will not be dominated by groups such as the Sierra Club, which wants ZERO trees cut in the forest. This information is on their web site. There's a politician, Pistol Pete Kostmyer, who is running against the incumbent in my area who was endorced by the Sierra Club. I had to laugh when I read on their site that they are conservationists in the tradition of their founder, John Muir. Muir's view was like that of Giffort Pinchot, who preached wise management. Today, unfortunately, the Sierra Club's philosophy is more like Henry David Thoreau's. And talk about advesarial enviornmentalism! If these folks don't get their way, they sue, or just make something up. As Patrick Moore said, the eco-extremists are leftists. Remember, a liberal is someone who has both feet firmly planted in mid air!
I don't agree with EVERYTHING that Moore says. Just his general ideas about the forest being dynamic and, as you said, to wisely manage what we have so we can make the best use of it. I'm not so sure about restoring the forest to keep the animals who once lived there. At least not every single species and sub species at all costs.
In my media studies, I learned about having a controlling element. The controlling element is that which takes the lead and the rest of the pieces focus on. For example, the audio track may be the controlling element. Or the video. As far as the "environment", humans are the controlling element. We have dominion over the earth. This, of course, does not mean exploitation, but we were given the wherewithall to manage the woods, and the earth, for that matter.
As I've already said, I agree that development should be limited and done in a smart way in the Pine Barrens.
I don't, however, believe that we have an obligation to each and every animal species to bring back their ancestral home. You can worry about me if you want, but it doesn't mean I care less for the Pine Barrens if I don't think that land managers should go out of their way to protect a rattle snake. Don't be adverserial. That's my opinion and my right. I may not agree with you on everything, German, but I have been really listening to what you have to say.
