Listen to science on fires

I believe there is a balanced stewardship that can be implemented. Are our energies to be invested in prevention of fires with only the preservation of property in mind? Are humans the only species in the biosphere that groom and create balance in the forests? Do fires offer any benefits to us in the long view?

There is a purpose in the symbiotic relationship that exists in the forest ecosystem. If all snags were cleared, there would be no homes for birds like the flicker. Currently we are witnessing an inherently necessary process of adaptation for all species on Earth. We, as one species, have a pivotal influence on our environment but have ignored the early warnings of scientists concerning global warming as “eccentric opinion,” as Bertrand Russell would state.

What is healthy and beneficial to the Earth’s diverse species eventually returns to us in kind. In essence we agree about the preservation of our natural resources, minus the micromanaging and myopic vision. Let’s find solutions with what science is telling us, being vigilant to the needs of all parts of the tapestry of life.

Stephen Wieber

Greenacres