[Vision2020] fires, environmetalists, etc

[Sunil Ramalingam]

Roger,

I think if Glenn believes what he's saying is correct, he should be able to 
show us which areas in the last round of fire were National Forest lands, 
and privately owned land in which brush clearing was actually proscribed 
because it was protected for the kangaroo rat.

I don't think either types of land will prove to be significant.  From my 
cursory review, it seems to me that brush clearing on account of the 
kangaroo rat was not forbidden.  Discing was, but someone could go in with 
chainsaws and clear brush if they wanted to.  So it was the method, not the 
practice, which was limited.

Also, since this part of California doesn't have much in the way of 
commercially valuable timber, I very much doubt that litigation by 
environmental groups had any impact on USFS practices.  I realize I could be 
wrong, and will admit such if someone can prove it.  I only fought one fire 
in that region, but I sure didn't see any big trees.  Lots of brush, no 
trees.

Fire was a part of the region's ecology long before this area became part of 
the United States.  I think it's garbage to claim that environmentalists 
somehow created the problem of wildfires in the region.  The major problem 
in SoCal is people pushing into areas that are going to burn regularly.  I 
spent ten summers fighting fires, and enjoyed the work and the challenge, 
but if humidity is low, fuel is dry, and terrain and weather conditions are 
appropriate, fire is going to spread, and there's not much we can do to stop 
it.

Sunil


>From: lfalen <lfalen at turbonet.com>
>Reply-To: lfalen <lfalen at turbonet.com>
>To: vision2020 at moscow.com
>Subject: [Vision2020] fires, environmetalists, etc
>Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:15:26 -0700
>
>This is in response to several post that have been made over the last week. 
>I agree with much of what Sunil had to say except that I don,t thing I have 
>made any blanket statements and that environmentalist have not had anything 
>to do with the fires in southern california. Glenn is correct in his 
>statement that environmentalist have, through the courts prevented people 
>from clearing brush from their own land in orde to protect endangered 
>species. This is not a blanket indictment of all environmentalist or all 
>forest service personnel. The forest service's policy has been quite varied 
>and they have to deal with governmental edits. Environmentalists come in 
>all shades. The Earth LIberation Front and Animal Liberation Front are on 
>the lunatic fringe and are criminal in their actions (spiking trees and the 
>release of lab animals). Groups such as the Sierria Club are somewhat saner 
>but are still unrealistic. I used to support the Audubon Society and The 
>National Wildlife Federatio!
>  n until
>they became blatantly anti-livestock. I still support the Nature 
>Conservancy. They are an organization that does a lot of good.The major 
>beef I have with them is that they frequently turn over some of their 
>property to various government agencies. I think that they should keep it.
>I support the policy of farmers and ranchers providing wildlife habitat on 
>their places. On our two acres at Genesee we planted  a small area to trees 
>and other shrubbery in the seventies.  This provides habitat for pheasants, 
>quail and other small birds( also friendly squirrels)
>The Owyhee Initiative sponsored by Senator Crapo is an example of all sides 
>coming together in support of a workable solution where everybody wins. 
>This involves the area where I was raised. It  protects the livelihood of 
>ranchers, the Air Force bombing range, Indians and the scenic beauty of all 
>three branches of the Owyee River. Even the Sierria Club supports it.
>For those of you who are interested in Idaho history I would recommend the 
>books written by Mike Handley. He is a Jordan Valley Rancher an a friend of 
>mine.  He also has a degree in Anthropology. Two of his books are "Owyhee 
>Trails, The Wests Forgotten Corner and Sagebrush and Axle Grease. I am 
>mentioned in Owyhee Trails. He won a national historical award for this 
>book.
>
>Roger
>
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