EARNIE GRAFTON / Union-Tribune
Carolyn Chase, founder of San Diego EarthWorks, said she is discouraged that activism hasn't been turned into political clout.
Carolyn Chase, founder of San Diego EarthWorks, said she is discouraged that activism hasn't been turned into political clout.
maybe if such things as global warming were actually sound science and not just enviro-wacko rhetoric we would be more apt to pay attention.
The fruits of extreme environmentalism are apparent in my county. Here is a column I wrote in this week's weekly news. Just happened to coincide with Earth Day.
I just read a 2005 study entitled “The Impact of California’s Changing Environmental Regulations on Timber Harvest Planning Costs” by Cal-Poly at San Luis Obispo. The study tracked the increase in the cost of preparing a typical California private land Timber Harvest Plan (THP) from $2,200 in 1973 to $30,000 in 2004 more than a 1,200% increase over a 30 year span. This figure did not include special considerations for salmonids, which can increase the cost up to another $15,000.
The study stated that the reasoning behind environmental laws is that the social welfare benefits from improved human health and well-being; an improved legacy of natural resources to be handed down to future generations; and retention of aesthetic beauty far outweigh the economic, social and environmental costs of the regulations.
California has taken a mandatory, process-oriented approach in regulation. These restrictive regulations micro-manage for: “forest health, wildlife habitat, water and air quality, archaeological sites, land use patterns, and respect for community sentiments.” On the other hand, the Southern states have chosen a voluntary, best management, outcome-based approach and have faired much better in overall results.
The report indicated that the by-products of California’s approach have been: an increase in imports of wood products; an export of jobs; disruption of community stability; reduced forest health; and increased fire risk. The cost of the THP per unit has produced a trend toward larger scale harvests and more frequent conversion of small woodland into residential or other uses. The reason behind this effect can be seen in a recent presentation by Charlie Brown of Fruit Growers Supply, where the market price for logs was shown at $400 per thousand board feet, and the cost to harvest them in spotted owl/salmonid country was from $300-375 per thousand board feet.
The trend has been the closure of small local mills that sawed larger trees, to be replaced by a few larger, more efficient mills designed for smaller logs. Since 1988, 49 lumber mills have closed in the State. Since 1973, California’s share of the softwood timber market by volume has declined from 25% to 15%. In an international market place, forest practices and environmental regulations have been determined to be the most important issue affecting the California industry’s competiveness.
Locally, the impacts have been severe. According to a study by Registered Professional Forester Mike Duguay, Siskiyou County has lost 80% of its logging jobs since 1989, (from 951 jobs in 1989, to 331 in 1995, to 186 in 2004.) Timber harvest during the same period has declined in total million board feet from about 550 in 1989, to 150 in 1995, to about 230 in 2003. Harvest on public land alone during this period of time has declined in million board feet from about 320 in 1989, to 20 in 1995 to 35 in 2003.
Population changes in Siskiyou County since the Northwest Forest Plan indicate that along the Klamath River corridor, the population declined 22% between the years 1990-2000. The number of residents aged 0-4 and 20-29 dropped by over 50%, while age 5-19 and 30-44 dropped 45%. Age 45-64 grew 86%. There was a 41.8% drop in school enrollment. Median household income declined from $31,236 to $20,924, (a drop of 33%.) The number of households earning less than $10,000 grew by 24%. Unemployment climbed from 16.18% to 19.60% in 2000.
On the other hand, Scott Valley saw a population replacement effect of new retirees during the 1990-2000 period. The population actually slightly increased. The number of residents aged 0-4 dropped by 31.63%, aged 30-44 by 28%, Those age 45-64 grew 46.65% and those 65 and over grew by 27.27%. There was a .72% drop in school enrollment. Median household income increased 9.53% from $27,888 to $30,545. Unemployment increased from 7.95% to 9.32%. The number of households earning less than $10,000 decreased 21%.
It appears that "benefits" and "costs" of this policy are not evenly distributed across the state.
Earth Day is Lenin’s Birthday -- Coincidence or Communism?
From the article:
"In 1955, then Soviet Premier, Nikita Krushchev ordered April 22nd be designated a day to celebrate Communism. In 1970, it was chosen to be Earth Day by Gaylord Nelson, one of the founders of the event. Those founders had 365 days from which to choose. They chose Lenin’s birthday."
"Critics contend that environmentalists lack a compelling vision and say the movement has become just another special interest.
Why not tell the truth? The enviro movement does have a "compelling" vision...its called communism! Just look at what they keep pushing, more government control/ownership.
How did I know she'd be spending her sunshine years talking to a cat.