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.

[HangnJudge]

Insightful and clear commentary
Good - very good
I will think upon this

[henderson field]

More pollution
does not happen
without More People.
Stop immigration now.

[B4Ranch]

Back in the late 60's and early 70's I watched what you are describing happen to the forests west of Spokane, Wash.

[claudiustg]

---The other species of trees are not vulnerable to the beetles. In several hundred years, the only mountain trees we'll have are Oaks and Firs.---

In California fire would be beneficial to redwoods as well. They need fire to expand their range.

[RipSawyer]

Horsespit

[freekitty]

How about the park is just old. I wonder if it has been properly taken care of? Probably not, if the envioronmentalists have anything to say about it. They will just let the thing grow wild. That should shorten it's lifespan considerably.

[claudiustg]

---That same situation is true here in the West. Photos from the 1860s, 1870s and 1880s when the far West was first being settled show many fewer pine trees than shown in photos taken from the same points today.---

Back east in particular, a lot of the forests were clear-cut to make way for farms. Now they've grown back. Walk through practically any forest in Massachusetts and you'll run into stone walls from where the land was cleared more than a hundred years ago.

The problems with ozone, acid rain, and the development of prime watersheds is very real though. In upstate New York much of the land was set aside to ensure an antiquate watershed for future needs.

[The KG9 Kid]

Redwoods are primarily coastal trees, and need a LOT of water to grow. I usually see redwood groves near a free flowing river, or where there's a lot of rainfall. I don't really know how far they can expand.

We lost quite a few of the giants in the last Yosemite fire.

[samtheman]

"The park has an annual budget shortfall of more than $11 million, and needs another 108 new full-time positions to adequately protect resources."

They want to hire an army of tree huggers. Then the forest will be saved.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[TN4Liberty]

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

We tried that, but y'all kept sneaking back in.

I think it is interesting that posters who live in the area seem to agree that there really is a problem with the Smokies, while others are arguing from a distance that there is nothing to this stuff. Fact is that entire forests at high elevations are dying, for many reasons. Pollution is a problem there, and can be traced to several of the concerns. Also, non-native Russian boar, some odd little bugs, and other things are factors. Visibility is WAY down compared to when I was a kid. Money may not cure them, but there is no denying the existance of a lot of serious problems in the Smokies.

[George Frm Br00klyn Park]

Guys, The Smokies are a United Nations "World" Heritage Area. Fix it and send them a bill. Peace and love, George.

[foreverfree]

bump

[foreverfree]

I live in Oak Ridge, TN

and therefore you are on EDT/EST by 30 miles. :-)

foreverfree

[Vinnie]

LeConte is a good example ask anyone who has frequently visited it's lodge and seems clearly progressive

Many years ago, when I was about 14,late 50's, myself and about 20 fellow campers hiked from Davenport Gap ( N. end of the Park) to Newfound Gap.

Our last day was spent on Mt. LeConte. I remember the lodge, under a canopy of huge hemlock trees.

Are you saying the trees are gone? What a shame.

BTW..the place was infested with black bears. We saw at least 6 on and around the lodge.

[sully777]

ACID RAIN? I haven't heard about acid rain since the last Bush resided at the Presidential residence. Amazing how Clinton made it magically disappear.

BTW, I blame the Smokey Mountain malaise on FDR. He was the prez that started TVA and tried to take away the aweful poverty of the Appalachian people [aka hillbillies]. All the pollution comes from progress!

[qam1]

Oh really! Follow this link to an Accuracy in Media newsletter from 1990. Acid rain may be a measureable thing, but the damage claims are hype.

I agree that there has been an exaggeration on acid rain, But come on now it's not a natural occurrence when 40 Lakes in an area that were thriving end up turning so acidic that not a thing can live in them and many others have also had a drop in pH. And the Adirondack park where these lakes are is about 10X the size of the Smokeys so they are pretty isolated so the damage is not coming from a local pollution source.

[lugsoul]

Hmmm - grey-blue mist from plant respiration or brown haze from pollution. Same thing, right?

[Blzbba]

"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."



Actually, from your own words (because I'm not familiar with the Missouri oak situation), it appears that the oak population boomed when "other trees were removed or died out". Since oaks don't generally have massive natural die-outs, it sounds like human activities involving the removal of other trees certainly aided the oak boom, whose downstream effects include a boom in the Woody Woodpecker and bluebird populaces (a good thing, IMO).