Forest and Grasslands Lab

 

§  International Day of the Forest (3:22)

Requested responses for this video:

A.  Your textbook lists seven ecological services of forests. List these along with three more you can find in this video or elsewhere. They can be subsets of the "main" ones. The ecological services listed by the book include: Support energy flow and chemical cycling, reduce soil erosion, absorb and release water, purify water and air, influence local and regional climate, store atmospheric carbon, and provide numerous wildlife habitats. Of course the book names every one that I would think of, so I took to the Internet to dig up several more.  Oddly missing from the book are the following services: The forests provide recreation, cultural habitation, soil formation, and genetic resources/biological control (biodiversity).

B.  Why is an International Day of the Forest important to recognize? In my opinion, It keeps us looking at both the forests themselves (their overall health), and the quality of life and sustainability of the organisms (and people) that populate them. Any yearly holiday like this one also tends to act as a mile marker on many organizational and personal journeys toward both major and minor accomplishments. In essence, it makes you take a moment and look back at what you did, and did not accomplish.

C.  Name two groups involved in the preservation of forests. I assume this question is looking for organized conservation groups, two that come to mind are the International Conservation Union (IUCN), and the Rainforest Alliance. There are actually quite a few others, even the Wildlife Conservation Society plays a role in protecting rain forests and have arguably been super effective at doing so. Just for kicks (and because I adore the rain forests) Two activist groups that deserve attention are the Rain forest Action Network (RAN), and the Amazon Watch. Both of these groups do wonderful things for keeping an eye on anything commercial or industrial that would affect the rain forests they watch over. You may notice I specifically excluded Greenpeace… yeah, if you really want to know more about organizations like Greenpeace and PETA, just do some googling and you’ll see what these “nonprofits” have become in their adulthood.

 

§  Wild Earth Guardians. Wilderness Proposal for Forests in Utah. Many resources for information here.

Requested responses for this document:

A.  List the characteristics and ecological values of wilderness. I hope I’m getting the drift of this question, but the characteristics of wilderness are: an area over 5000 acres of continuous wild land. Smaller areas can sometimes be listed as wilderness as well, although this usually hinges around unique land features or habitats. The area must be natural, which in essence just means it has to appear to have been primarily shaped by nature with any human impacts being relatively unnoticeable (IE fences, lookouts, etc). The region has to be primitive, so again, for the most part be unnoticeably affected by human interaction. Finally there are other supplemental values, like unique geological, scientific, educational, historical, or ecological qualities, but none of these are required to qualify the land as wilderness. Really the above pretty clearly expresses the value of wilderness. They allow us the incredible opportunity to look at a world that hasn’t been shaped by us (although in an abstract way we have probably affected every inch of the planet at this point in one way or another), and the deeper areas have scientific, cultural, and historical significance. Also, they promote life doing what it does best, surviving and diversifying. If you really think about it, we are a force powerful enough, and unregulated horrible enough, to actually cripple natural evolution, it’s spooky huh?

B.  Name and describe two things in this document that "speak" to you. By this I mean they touched your emotions in some way. Why do you think you responded in this way? All jokes aside, I’m very emotionally muted, but the two things in the world that get my goat like none other are cruelty to children and animals. It actually upsets me deeply, because they actually can’t defend themselves, and of course the world is comprised of (primarily) a bunch of jerks that think that just because they can treat another life a certain way and get away with it, they should. Just thinking about that topic lights a fire in me, I tell you. Before even reading this question and browsing around the site though, I got my usual feeling of “nature deserves better than us,” although I tend to get that whenever I look at particularly beautiful pictures of scenery and animals, so I suppose that’s pretty typical. That really just stems from a deeper feeling of responsibility that think a lot of the world lacks. Not that I entirely blame them, some people are so busy just trying to get by, that they can’t possibly spend time thinking about the topic. This of course also gets me thinking about what I could be doing differently in regard to how I affect the world personally, which usually results in looking up prices on assorted alterations and upgrades I could do to my living area to cut back some; which inevitably leads to me feeling defeated before I started due to the lack of caring on the part of the majority, which makes me want to have a drink and watch a documentary (my form of chocolate for depression). I’m sure all of that sounds insane, but there you have it. On a separate note: I also got the sinking feeling that this organization really needs to fix up their website. I know they are trying to offer a lot of information, but sometimes it’s best to just ask for money up front with a few key points as to why you should donate; and save the specifics for interested parties. Just a friendly criticism that I shared with the website’s operators via email.

C.  Name two groups involved in preservation of wilderness. I don’t know if this is the information being asked for here, but two groups we covered in the reading are the Bureau of Land Management, and the Forest Service. Both are concerned with the legislation and policy making regarding wild lands so I think they are good choices.

D.  If you are interested in helping in this effort, what can you do? This question is hard to answer after my tirade about feeling defeated before I start in question B. Honestly, it’s probably easiest to just donate money to a group that is handling some local or national facet of what matters most to you (although if you have $100 to give yearly, I’d recommend splitting that up across 5 organizations in the name of overall contributions being better annually). Of course you can try to control your own footprint on things, and encourage others to do the same (every little bit really does help, even if I come off as a defeatist). Finally, you could look up a local or national group like the Arizona Wilderness Coalition (for those of you from AZ) and simply see what roles they need filled; this can extend from public teaching to graphic design, so again, never assume you are powerless, because if everyone assumed that, we’d never get anything done.

 

§  The Land of Mountaintop Removal (2:57)

Requested responses:

A.  What is the impact on people living in the areas where this takes place? Do a little research and describe. Oddly enough, this is another topic I know a thing or two about. Not only does mountaintop removal contaminate drinking water (not all the time, but it has definitely happened). It’s directly dangerous from flying debris; in fact, I’m fairly certain there has been several cases of people’s homes being damaged and lives being threatened by some of the larger parts. Mountaintopping can cause nasty flash floods (from the diversion of water) which are accompanied by ridiculous mud slides as well. There’s coal sludge build up and dumping, habitat destruction, economic hardships (loss of jobs / land that yields goods), the list really goes on and on. The proof is light, but there also seems to be a correlation between mountaintopping and general health issues. In areas of high level mining (of almost any kind) there seems to be an increase in morbidity, depression, diabetes, heart disease, even cancer, compared to surrounding areas of the same region.

B.  Name and describe two things in this video that "speak" to you. By this I mean they touched your emotions in some way. Why do you think you responded in this way? Once again, I get the negative emotion associated with “we can do awesome things, and this is what we do with it,” which again stems from my overall feeling about the environment being not only our home, but our responsibility. The other (somewhat less common) reaction I had was the awestruck feeling I get when I see large mining equipment. It really is impressive, even if it’s often used for crappy reasons. Again however, it’s important to keep in mind that I’m a little emotionally muted, so I have a really hard time answering questions like this anyway.

C.  Name two groups involved in preservation of mountaintops. I actually didn’t know the name of any organization that fought for the mountaintops (a few in each other region, but not that high up). Two I dug up that seem to be reputable are the Keeper of the Mountains Foundation, and the Coal River Mountain Watch. I say “good for you” to any organization working toward protecting mountain top from this type of stupidity. Because let’s face it, we’re all adults here, this type of behavior is simply greedy and stupid. I don’t have a classier way to word this, the people engaging in this kind of thing and don’t see anything wrong with it are just plain deluded or dumb as hell.

D.  If you are interested in helping in this effort, what can you do? As always, it really comes down to how much time or money you are willing to invest. If you have a lot of time, volunteer with one of your local groups or a close neighboring area’s group. If you have some disposable income and want to feel good about doing the little bit you can, research your options, and pick one that is a real non-profit, or at the very least, gets things done.

 

§  Avatar Grove Making a Stand (7:43)

Requested responses:

A. List the characteristics and ecological values of old growth forests.  Characteristics of old growth are defined as a forest that has attained a great age without significant disturbance from humanity, and therefore exhibits unique ecological features. Ecologically, (of course) relate to oxygen production, the retention of soil, and act as genetic reservoirs of diversity (seriously lots and lots of species in them). They also provide unique habitats to unique life forms, and benefit many varieties of life that would otherwise cease to exist.

B.  Name and describe two things in this video that "speak" to you. By this I mean they touched your emotions in some way. Why do you think you responded in this way? I really liked the one line one of the interviewees made, “If we’ve already cut down the rest, why can’t we just leave the last 10 percent?” what an incredibly simple and elegant solution right? I don’t know how many more of these videos my heart can take (on account of incredibly elevated blood pressure from being agitated), even my ten year old can see the problem with most environmental issues. I also liked hearing that they rallied support so quickly. It’s nice to hear about success when it actually happens. Granted I’m not that impressed, trees are pretty and therefore easy to protect. Vultures on the other hand? Save some vultures and then brag about it (ha ha ha).

C.  Name two groups involved in preservation of the Avatar Grove. A quick search yielded the Ancient Forest Alliance, and interestingly enough, the Teal-Jones Group actually wound up agreeing to its protection? Excuse the inquisitive on the end of that, but apparently they have set boundaries (Teal-Jones own the logging rights to the area) that they won’t cut past, and are actually paving old logging trails up to the edge of the preserve. I’m sure they are getting a tax credit for it, but I have to cite the company itself for not turning this into a legal battle (if I’m understanding the reading properly). Now if we can just get all the other yahoos in charge of mining / collection to do similar things.

D.  If you are interested in helping in this effort, what can you do? I’m going to pretty much offer the same answer as I have been. Volunteer, or money sent are the two simplest ways. Although the Ancient Forest Alliance does have a very prominent “what can I do,” section on their site, so bravo for that.

 

§  Climate, Trees, and Legacy (45:23). Connie Barlow is a new friend of mine. Test your fondness of trees by view entire video!

Requested responses:

A. Describe assisted migration and why Connie and others feel it is so important. Assisted Migration is pretty much what it sounds like. It’s an ambitious project to basically move forests manually (as seedlings mainly) to ensure their survival, and allow them to continue providing the services we need them for. It’s really interesting if only for the fact that it’s proactive, although I don’t totally agree with doing it in general (mainly due to my personal concerns with messing with anything ecological at all); but I can certainly respect and appreciate the motivation.

B.  Name and describe two things in this video that "speak" to you. By this I mean they touched your emotions in some way. Why do you think you responded in this way? I must say, I did like the bit about a total shift in consciousness to being proactive, it may not be as bad of an idea as I initially thought. I also respected the heck out of her take on essentially “leaving something behind,” for future generations, and her new spontaneity when it comes to writing (not like I know a dang thing about that).

C.  If you are interested in helping in this effort, what can you do? If you really want to, you can sign up with the Torreya Guardians, and get involved hands on and in person.

D. Do the "homework" near the end of the video. The homework from the end was the question: “What do trees mean to you?” Good question! I actually come from a place with literally no trees. There was not a single one in a long distance around my childhood home. So it wasn’t until I moved here to Prescott that I really lived around a lot of trees. I do clearly remember the first time I stood next to a tree (long before moving here), and looking up and assuming it must be the tallest thing in the world (I was very young). Since then, trees have become a feature of the landscape that just kind of “belongs there.” I appreciate them as a necessary part of my surroundings modernly, especially because I don’t think I could go back to a place without any, it would be way too depressing.

 

§  Importance of Northern Arizona Grasslands

Requested responses:

A. Name five ecological service grassland provide and five threats to grasslands. Ecologically, grassland support pollinators (bees and the likes), help regulate air quality, help control erosion, provide food and water, as well as assorted raw feeding materials, and even medicinal components. Common threats include continued climate change (changes in heat levels and rainfall patters), conversion for row crops, continued development of urban areas (although this one will take a long time to kill off all of it for certain, it isn’t helping), GMO seeds of certain types can cause crazy problems very quickly for most grass lands (although this isn’t as much an Arizona issue), pests and disease can spread quickly through them, and of course (especially here) fire.

B.  Name and describe two things in this video that "speak" to you. By this I mean they touched your emotions in some way. Why do you think you responded in this way? I actually only had a link to a document, and I can’t really pretend that I had a deeper emotional reaction to it. Although like always, I really do wish that people would take a moment and really contemplate their actions before they go through with expanding housing development and so on. In Prescott Valley, I remember there being a time where a lot of the land where Tim’s Toyota Center now stands (and all its neighboring buildings for that matter) one used to be able see whole herds of antelope and cows, there were frequently roadrunners, and also I recall there being horned lizards-a-plenty… although come to think of it, I haven’t seen one of those in PV or here in Prescott in quite a while. Anyway, the greater point I’m getting to is: thank goodness PV’s governing body traded all of that for an arena and parking lot… Jerks.

C.  Name two groups involved in preservation of grasslands. This one is easy, the same folks working on preserving most of our natural resources in Arizona: The Nature Conservancy Mission, and The Arizona Game and Fish Department (who actually do their job).

D.  If you are interested in helping in this effort, what can you do? Actually, I have a different solution to offer on this one: You can volunteer or work directly for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. They are only as good and concerned as their people, and they have a great track record (in fact I am looking for a summer job…).

 

§  E.O. Wilson on Biodiversity and Hotspots

Requested responses:

A.  Name ten biodiversity hot spots. Ten of the worlds biodiversity hot spots are: Tropical Andes-South America, Madagascar (love the movie as well), Cerrado-Brazil, Indo-Burma, Caribbean Islands, Southwest Australia, Polynesia-Microneisa, Great Barrier Reef-Australia, Succulent Karoo-Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa. That was ten right?

B. Write a four-sentence biography of E.O. Wilson. Fun fact: I feel kind of funny saying this, but in my book, this guy is kind of a rock star. He is responsible for so many parts of our modern functional understanding of the ecosystem and life itself, we truly owe this man a monument when he dies. Another fun fact: one of the only kinds of life I find myself universally enthralled by are ants. E.O. Wilson happens to be pretty much the world’s authority on myrmecology (which is awesome). Now on to the biography bit: E.O. Wilson was born June 10, 1929, and is an American biologist, researcher, theorist, naturalist, and author. He was and will always be considered the father of sociobiology (basically states that our interactions and behaviors are a result of evolution and attempts to qualify said behaviors from that standpoint). He is pretty much “the guy,” when it comes to biology in a lot of other ways as well, even long after his retirement, his ideas, theories, and philosophies are some of the best we produce as human beings. Like myself, he holds that he only worldview compatible with science is a term he made up “scientific humanism.” I feel so bad trying to summarize Wilson in four sentences. There should have been a question pertaining to my emotional reaction to that bit (I’m kidding… mostly).

C.  Name and describe two things in this video that "speak" to you. By this I mean they touched your emotions in some way. Why do you think you responded in this way? I think the bit about how cheap it would be to do the right thing. It’s like listening to Neil Tyson talk about using 5% of our defense fund to fund NASA for the next hundred years; it makes me crazy. He is right though, most conservation effort “bills” compared to the GDP of a region or the world’s GDP is chicken feed when compared to how much money there actually is. This whole series of topics for these labs have probably taken five years off my life out of pure frustration with humanity.

D.  Name two groups involved in preservation of Biodiversity hot spots. Groups involved in the preservation of Biodiversity hot spots include: The World Wildlife Fund, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, Alliance for Zero Extinction, and (of course) The National Geographic Society.