Energy, Trees, Grass and Water

This week I had the opportunity to participate in discussions with federal agencies, academic interests and public representatives on issues of importance ... energy, trees, grass and water. The world is either excited about or ignoring the approaching limits of each and our use conservation and enhancement of each substantially impacts other current issues. Global climate change for example.

Energy: How can we help folks use it more efficiently? Increased oil prices and resulting increased gasoline prices, brought down driving miles. Now gasoline is 'relatively' cheap again. Will the driving public respond by increasing their gasoline use? Undoubtedly, yes! Do we forget about the limits and the need to more efficiently use energy? Hopefully, not.

Trees and grass: Forest and rangeland in the U.S. is not being well managed. Conflicting strategies of preservation and effective use are creating situations that support more fires. The West is burning again, but other issues are raising there heads . . invasive species, watershed deterioration, distorted wildlife conditions. Can we have 'working landscapes' that enhance in a natural way the ecosystems of our forests and grasslands? Much work needs to be done.

Water: Water is being discussed by many as the most critically limiting natural resource. Essential to life, water is limited in arid areas by definition, but it is also limited in other areas as drought is brought on by the changing climate. In other areas, water is abundant, but of poor quality. The issue in the U.S. is small compared to other parts of the world, especially Asia and Africa.

We need major efforts to make the public more aware and concerned about the issues of energy, forestry, grass and water ... natural resources. The green movement is popular at the moment, but do 'greenies' really recognize the limits of our resources or are the following a fad?

Where is the crisis?