Comments for Cool Green Science: The Conservation Blog of The Nature Conservancy http://blog.nature.org A blog on conservation, from migratory birds to coral reefs, from rainforests to climate change to personal green technology. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:29:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Speaking Up for North America’s Forests by Jon Schwedler http://blog.nature.org/2011/11/speaking-up-for-north-americas-forests/comment-page-1/#comment-318658 Jon Schwedler Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:29:04 +0000 http://blog.nature.org/?p=27683#comment-318658 Thank you for your questions S. The Nature Conservancy is a strong supporter of the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration program, along with The Wilderness Society, Defenders of Wildlife, Sustainable Northwest, and 140 other private entities. As stated in the above, the Conservancy estimates a forested area bigger than California is in need of immediate restoration in the United States. These areas need restoration due to a "perfect storm" of causes: - a previous century-old national policy of putting out all natural fires in our forests; - the introduction of foreign pests and diseases to our forests; - a changing climate that is allowing native U.S. bugs to do more damage; -a historical legacy of poorly managed forest harvesting. The net result is that many of our forests are sickly, overgrown, and unable to provide the same amount of life-giving services our nation depends on. Some of our forests need to be thinned out to restore wildlife habitat, and to reduce the risk of destructive mega-fires that harm wetlands. CFLR improves forest management by including more of the local players in forest planning from the get-go. It brings together conservationists, businesses, and communities to collaboratively find the best way to manage their local water, forest, and wildlife resources. At some CFLR projects this means treating forests with more controlled burns to thin the forest and knock down invasive species; in others "mechanical thinning" is used (ie. cutting). In many cases these activities provide jobs for local communities and wood for businesses. Regardless of the method used to restore these forests, the primary motivation and goal of the projects is to restore the condition of the forest for people, water, and wildlife. The first year results of the program is strong evidence CFLR is meeting that goal. Again, thank you for your question S. Thank you for your questions S.

The Nature Conservancy is a strong supporter of the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration program, along with The Wilderness Society, Defenders of Wildlife, Sustainable Northwest, and 140 other private entities.

As stated in the above, the Conservancy estimates a forested area bigger than California is in need of immediate restoration in the United States. These areas need restoration due to a “perfect storm” of causes:

- a previous century-old national policy of putting out all natural fires in our forests;
- the introduction of foreign pests and diseases to our forests;
- a changing climate that is allowing native U.S. bugs to do more damage;
-a historical legacy of poorly managed forest harvesting.

The net result is that many of our forests are sickly, overgrown, and unable to provide the same amount of life-giving services our nation depends on. Some of our forests need to be thinned out to restore wildlife habitat, and to reduce the risk of destructive mega-fires that harm wetlands.

CFLR improves forest management by including more of the local players in forest planning from the get-go. It brings together conservationists, businesses, and communities to collaboratively find the best way to manage their local water, forest, and wildlife resources.

At some CFLR projects this means treating forests with more controlled burns to thin the forest and knock down invasive species; in others “mechanical thinning” is used (ie. cutting). In many cases these activities provide jobs for local communities and wood for businesses.

Regardless of the method used to restore these forests, the primary motivation and goal of the projects is to restore the condition of the forest for people, water, and wildlife. The first year results of the program is strong evidence CFLR is meeting that goal.

Again, thank you for your question S.

]]> Comment on Speaking Up for North America’s Forests by S. http://blog.nature.org/2011/11/speaking-up-for-north-americas-forests/comment-page-1/#comment-316432 S. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:23:57 +0000 http://blog.nature.org/?p=27683#comment-316432 Just so I understand - are you cheering that they are cutting down more trees? Because I'm not sure I can cheer for that. "Producing board-feet of timber" means destroying trees, doesn't it? How is that good news? Are they really "improving wildlife habitat," or is that just what they say to pretend they are not pillaging it for profit? Just so I understand – are you cheering that they are cutting down more trees? Because I’m not sure I can cheer for that. “Producing board-feet of timber” means destroying trees, doesn’t it? How is that good news? Are they really “improving wildlife habitat,” or is that just what they say to pretend they are not pillaging it for profit?

]]> Comment on Dispatch from the Field: Palau by DannyK http://blog.nature.org/2012/02/steph-wear-dispatch-from-the-field-palau/comment-page-1/#comment-316170 DannyK Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:08:06 +0000 http://blog.nature.org/?p=30489#comment-316170 I was just in Palau for the month of January, it was truly amazing! I was just in Palau for the month of January, it was truly amazing!

]]> Comment on Nature Brains: The Key to Protecting Grasslands? by Robert Lalasz http://blog.nature.org/2012/02/nature-brains-the-key-to-protecting-grasslands/comment-page-1/#comment-313314 Robert Lalasz Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:24:51 +0000 http://blog.nature.org/?p=30413#comment-313314 Hi, George -- Bob Lalasz here, director of science communications for the Conservancy. That information can be found in the study, which is open-source. Our "Nature Brains" feature is designed to give you a quick entree into new published research by Conservancy scientists -- not to redo the work of the paper. It's an excellent study, so I recommend that you look it over for those details you're seeking. Hi, George — Bob Lalasz here, director of science communications for the Conservancy. That information can be found in the study, which is open-source. Our “Nature Brains” feature is designed to give you a quick entree into new published research by Conservancy scientists — not to redo the work of the paper. It’s an excellent study, so I recommend that you look it over for those details you’re seeking.

]]> Comment on Nature Photo of the Week: Snail on a Leaf by the pilatesbiz http://blog.nature.org/2009/08/nature-photo-of-the-week-snail-on-a-leaf/comment-page-1/#comment-310658 the pilatesbiz Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:07:07 +0000 http://blog.nature.org/?p=6605#comment-310658 Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that Ive truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon! Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that Ive truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!

]]> Comment on Stopping the Burmese Python Invasion in Florida by Timothy Williams http://blog.nature.org/2009/02/stopping-the-burmese-python-invasion-in-florida/comment-page-1/#comment-309499 Timothy Williams Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:31:02 +0000 http://blog.nature.org/?p=2193#comment-309499 Have the pythons been spotted in Palm Beach County? There are lots of protected everglades in Palm Beach County. I want to volunteer to be a python patrol responder. As a teen my friends and I would catch snakes for the thrill of the hunt. Now as an adult I have become very protective of wildlife and the invasive species issue concerns me. The Loxahatchee wildlife refuge is one development away from being my backyard. I have a pick up truck and I want to get involved. Please let me know what steps I need to take to become a Python Patrol Responder. Have the pythons been spotted in Palm Beach County? There are lots of protected everglades in Palm Beach County. I want to volunteer to be a python patrol responder. As a teen my friends and I would catch snakes for the thrill of the hunt. Now as an adult I have become very protective of wildlife and the invasive species issue concerns me. The Loxahatchee wildlife refuge is one development away from being my backyard. I have a pick up truck and I want to get involved. Please let me know what steps I need to take to become a Python Patrol Responder.

]]> Comment on Nature Photo of the Week: Coyote Breath by Ben http://blog.nature.org/2012/02/nature-photo-of-the-week-coyote-breath/comment-page-1/#comment-307901 Ben Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:11:11 +0000 http://blog.nature.org/?p=30454#comment-307901 I really like photographs like this. I wonder how often people in Yellowstone National Park get to see things like this. I also wonder how long the photographer had to wait to take this shot or if they were simply there at the right time. Thanks for sharing this great photo! Ben obenxjaminx@gmail.com wildwestvirginia.wordpress.com I really like photographs like this. I wonder how often people in Yellowstone National Park get to see things like this. I also wonder how long the photographer had to wait to take this shot or if they were simply there at the right time. Thanks for sharing this great photo!

Ben
obenxjaminx@gmail.com
wildwestvirginia.wordpress.com

]]> Comment on Nature Brains: The Key to Protecting Grasslands? by George http://blog.nature.org/2012/02/nature-brains-the-key-to-protecting-grasslands/comment-page-1/#comment-306348 George Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:27:06 +0000 http://blog.nature.org/?p=30413#comment-306348 This could be an interesting story. Would love to hear how the Gobi project actually improved grazing efforts, developed alt. livelihoods, etc. The title promises to tell us the key to protecting grasslands and we got a few generalizations. This could be an interesting story. Would love to hear how the Gobi project actually improved grazing efforts, developed alt. livelihoods, etc. The title promises to tell us the key to protecting grasslands and we got a few generalizations.

]]> Comment on ‘Hidden Risk’: Mercury Pollution’s Costs to Wildlife and People by Ray Kinney http://blog.nature.org/2012/01/hidden-risk-mercury-pollutions-costs-to-wildlife-and-people/comment-page-1/#comment-305969 Ray Kinney Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:08:18 +0000 http://blog.nature.org/?p=30271#comment-305969 Don't forget that co-contaminants that are also neurotoxic and immunotoxic, such as lead and cadmium, are accumulative toxicants as well. They are as ubiquitous in the environment and our bodies as mercury is, and they affect many of the same physiologic pathways that mercury damages. Most toxicity research has necessarily been done on individual toxicants, yet in nature it is always as a combination of accumulative effects of mixtures that reduces health. Commonly, only acute toxic effects are appreciated as harming populations (because they are relatively more noticable 'belly up' effects. However, the much more important chronic low dose subclinical effects that are largely invisible are the most important toxicologic risk for health and population-limiting adverse effects. Don’t forget that co-contaminants that are also neurotoxic and immunotoxic, such as lead and cadmium, are accumulative toxicants as well. They are as ubiquitous in the environment and our bodies as mercury is, and they affect many of the same physiologic pathways that mercury damages.
Most toxicity research has necessarily been done on individual toxicants, yet in nature it is always as a combination of accumulative effects of mixtures that reduces health. Commonly, only acute toxic effects are appreciated as harming populations (because they are relatively more noticable ‘belly up’ effects. However, the much more important chronic low dose subclinical effects that are largely invisible are the most important toxicologic risk for health and population-limiting adverse effects.

]]> Comment on Deforestation or Murder? Why Orangutans Are Going Extinct by Natalie http://blog.nature.org/2011/11/deforestation-or-murder-why-orangutans-are-going-extinct/comment-page-1/#comment-303227 Natalie Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:23:33 +0000 http://blog.nature.org/?p=28787#comment-303227 Anyone have any pixar script ideas to market to children what they will miss in their lifetimes if grandma & grandpa continue their last century lifestyle? Anyone have any pixar script ideas to market to children what they will miss in their lifetimes if grandma & grandpa continue their last century lifestyle?

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