Dr. Conservation

Dear Dr. Conservation,

Some conservation issues are not so clear-cut. For example, I do believe what the scientists say about acid rain, but I cannot see it and therefore it is mysterious. On the other hand, I have seen places where trees have been cut down and the forest and habitats are clearly changed. Isn’t this an environmental problem, too?
Sincerely,
Pat

Dear Pat,

I have a simple “test” for you to apply. It’s called the “sustainability test,” but you could also call it the test of renewal. General concepts about human activities and the environment, and a basic approach to use in thinking about related issues, is (1) whether or not the activity is benign (no direct or indirect negative effects), and (2) whether the activity can be repeated over and over, essentially forever, without changing all the initial resources and environmental qualities.

The sustainability test has been in some use for at least a decade and can be found in the management of certain forests. The growth and re-growth of trees and forests represent some of our most important resources. Inherently, trees and forests are both excellent and simple resources to manage sustainably. Trees harvested today will be replaced by more trees for our continued harvesting in years to come, so long as the trees are managed sustainably. However, the sustainability test means managing the entire forest more so than just the merchantable trees themselves. This involves knowing the health over time of all the trees, shrubs, wildflowers, wildlife, water, soil, snails and other pieces of the forest ecosystem. Therefore, although you may have seen trees cut down in the places you mentioned in your letter, it does not mean that sustainable forest management was not taking place. But if you see soil washing into streams, or find that certain wildlife habitat or wildflowers will not be maintained over time, the sustainability test has not been passed.

Environmental influences are also taking place at much larger scales. Acid rain is a significant stress on forests and other natural resources, such as fish health, soil and water quality, and more. Applying the sustainability test to the root sources of such broad-scale issues must also be carried out. The solution is critical, but requires even more and wider cooperation.

Yes, some environmental issues are rather hidden, or are cloaked in myriad details difficult to decipher, or from which it is difficult to draw conclusions. This is why we need to strive for more complete science, to communicate the findings and to work to improve our future decisions. We need to keep educating ourselves and using the sustainability test to refine our actions. The terms may be new, but the concept of sustainability has always been the root underpinning of conservation, whether we understood all the details or not.

Sincerely,
Dr. Conservation

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