Report shows Smokies 'beginning to die' [ Our Forrests

Winston-Salem Journal ^ | Thursday April 15, 2004 | Associated Press

[kemosabe]

GATLINBURG, Tenn.

A new report by the National Parks Conservation Association on the future of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park paints a dire picture.

"This park is beginning to die," said Tom Kiernan, the conservation group's president. "This assessment clearly shows the park is in danger, and its long-term viability is at risk."

High ozone levels, acid rain, continued underfunding and a proposed road on the north shore of Fontana Lake in North Carolina are combining to endanger the park's future, Kiernan said.

Much of the damage could be slowed or prevented if certain steps are taken, he said, including rigorous enforcement of the federal Clean Air Act and increasing the park's budget.

"The question is will our society and Congress step up to implement these recommendations," Kiernan said.

If the Smokies aren't protected, the negative impact on the region's economy and quality of life could be significant, he said.

[pointsal]

The only solution is to ban humans from the whole state.

[gg188]

Roads allow the riff-raff in. Roads make it possible for weekenders and motorists and busy families on moderate incomes and just ordinary people to enjoy the park.

The elites have always been this way---they want to preserve the national parks for THEM to use, just not for the "commoners" to use.

[FITZ]

The only solution is to ban humans from the whole state.

One problem with the forest fires out west isn't that there haven't always been large fires --- but that there are expensive homes being built in fire zones ---- billions of dollars are being spent putting out fires because people want to live where forests belong.

[kemosabe]

Thank you

[Petronski]

Don't forget the brother.

[HangnJudge]

Sorry, not practical
also the sources of pollution extend well away from
the Tennessee Valley

[Eric in the Ozarks]

And we need to take it back and explain change is a natural event.
Much of our deforestation has occurred naturally. We are losing our oaks here in the mid-Missouri Ozarks because the oaks took over when other trees were removed or died out. Too many oaks accelerated oak borer populations and this has kicked off a big increase in woodpeckers and bluebirds, etc.
Nobody 'did' this.

[Vinnie]

I'll have to agree with the Judge.

I have pics of my kids on Mt. Mitchell under a canopy of fir trees at least 30 ft. tall. Green living trees.

Go up there today and all the old fir trees are gone, dead.
The Smokey Mtns. have always had a haze, I can remember back to the mid 50's. Today if you drive through the Swannanoa Valley ( I 40 east of Asheville) in July, you can't see the mountains at all. The haze is thicker than I can ever remember.

Whether the fir trees are succumbing to the pine beetle, acid rain, excess nitrogen ( all theories I've heard) the fact is something or combination of things is killing the firs on the high mountains.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

It shouldn't be uncommon for conservatives to be identified as conservationists. Preservationists are another matter.

[Thommas]

First study?

Then why do I remember an almost theme for theme article from the '70's? Acid rain, pollution, destruction from roads - these issues about the Smokies are raised periodically. Those poor liberals really need fresh material.

[Cleburne]

The Smokies have some natural change from storms, fire, and native pine beetles, but most of the forest composition change is coming from introduced pests. The most spectacular, at the present time, is the damage from the balsam wooly alegid. It bores into Fraser fir trees and eventually kills them. Much of the high country above fifty-five hundred feet is more or less denuded. Almost all the mature Fraser firs are dead; seedlings tend to die off after they reach the thirty year mark or so.

I understand that other insects are migrating into the Park from outside, among them foreign pests that infect hemlocks and oaks: two of the most common trees in the Park. One can imagine what would happen if both species died out on a scale equitable with, say, the American chestnut. It would not be pretty. Of course, the environment will eventually adjust, with other species filling in the gaps. The impact would still be immense, though, as anyone familiar the abundance and role of the hemlock and oak in the mountains could attest.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Check your freepmail.

[Sorcerer3]

But it's underfunding that killing the trees. not the bugs. get it?

[GATOR NAVY]

Depleted Uranium anyone?The overplayed depleted uranium "threat" is a favorite cause of lefties.

Do you have an agenda?

[vetvetdoug]

There is one little piece of information left out of the Smokey Mt. maturation of its forest. The Smokies were Clear Cut during the early part of the 1900's and it wasn't until the 20's and 30's did they let the growth begin again. There is a maturation natural process going on in the Smokies right now. I worked with the NPS at the Smokies and the Wildlife Department at the UTK. One can make both arguments for what is going on there but the data can be skewed both ways.

[concerned about politics]

Much of the damage could be slowed or prevented if certain steps are taken..............increasing the park's budget.

(Ching ching $$$$$$)

[HangnJudge]

Agreed, Data can be skewed but
Thoughtful people will have civilized dialog
about problems held in common

Not Demagoguery and Political Gobbledygook

[FixitGuy]

I GOT it.....

Too many cigarette smokers in Gatlinburg!

[farmfriend]

He is one of my favorites.