Recreational Conflicts

Just when you think most conflicts over natural resources are resolved, out pops, again, the age-old battles over who "owns" a river.

This is a perfect example why thoughtful conflict resolution and discussion over "ownership" of water is so important.

Urban Wildlife Conflicts

Usually we read about urban wildlife conflicts between humans and coyotes.  But here is an interesting article about Bald eagles and Great blue herons.  Obviously, the idea is we should be looking at what is happening in the larger landscape for answers on why  the Bald eagles are seeking out heron chicks as a food source.

Biofuels from Slash

An excellent article here about the complexities of creating biofuel from forest slash.

Stewart Udall -- Am American Hero

 

I grew up watching and listening to Stewart Udall.  Like Aldo Leopold, Gifford Pinchot, Bob Marshall, John Muir, Udall was a true patriot, loving this land as much as loving the people who are in it's boundaries.

Nuclear Power?

Several days ago there was a fabulous program about nuclear power on the local public radio station.  As the current Administration emphasizes increasing our nuclear power capacity, the debate over safety, cost, and eventual storage of waste for thousands of years should be examined closely.  These licensing decisions are not just decisions of a lifetime, they are decisions about the lifetime of Earth.

Small Farmlands

Several years ago we did a proposal for clustered housing around a "working forest" that would be owned by the homeowner's association and perhaps managed as a "family forest." This idea on Pope & Talbot's former timberland, to incorporate a small farm, is as good, if not better!

Biomass in Washington

Looks like Washington State is on it's way to finding long term contracts for small pole timber and slash to be used as biofuel.  This legislation will allow the head of Department of Natural Resources to sell small pole timber on state trust lands, which could be another way for schools and universities (the true owners of the state trust lands) to earn income.