Issue Position: Real Enviornmentalists

Issue Position

As a lifelong Minnesotan, I can personally attest to the fact that the real environmentalists are the people who live near our streams, lakes, rivers and lands. These people are the ones who live in the deep woods of the north or plow, till, plant and harvest our farmlands. They know best what will keep these resources alive and thriving.

We have witnessed an alarming decrease in our ability to freely use the lands and resources in our communities. We have seen policies put into place that now pass for law. We need real policies for real people that really work. And not just for the people, but for the other residents of these areas. Let me explain.

Recently, there has been discussion around the decline of moose habitat. Let me share the following true story with you that will shed some light on why there's currently a problem with our moose habitat:

In the early 1980's, I was involved in the timber industry in northern Minnesota. We were clear-cutting 160-acre parcels of federal timber lands on the Echo Trail for moose habitat. We did this to provide open areas and new growth for the moose to eat. The moose were thriving in these clear cut locations.

After a few years, the U.S. Forest Service decided to leave rub trees for the moose in the clear cut areas. The premise behind this action was that the moose might need to scratch their backs as they were walking through. (I'm not making this up!)

Subsequent to this policy, the Forest Service then decided to leave additional trees called 'bird trees.' This was done so the birds could see their prey in the clear cuts more easily.

On the heels of this policy, we were then asked to leave standing 2-5 acre plots of untouched forest (within the 160-acre clear cut). This was done in case the moose needed to take a nap during their journey through the clear cut.

So, after these actions were taken, the U.S. Forest Service basically eliminated all clear cuts from the Forest Management Plan.

That brings us to to today. Instead of recognizing that their actions have reduced moose habitat, the government uses this as an excuse to promote global warming, which they say could be to blame for the loss of moose habitat.

Interestingly enough, just a few miles to the north in Canada, clear cuts are still being done, and the moose are thriving. (Maybe they don't have global warming there.)

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this tale of government intervention citing yet another failed program.

It is my firm belief and conviction that the timber industry, mining, farming and tourism industries can all work together in environmentally friendly ways.

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