Seeing the Forest

  The Siuslaw National Forest creates a prime environments for it's tree's to thrive. It also creates the perfect timber, which is what the forest used to be mainly used for. Environmentalists fought for reform. In an effort to increase the likelihood of the forests long-term survival the people responsible for it's care had to make some changes. They started by creating a "stakeholder, round table type" of meetings that eventually transformed into one common goal; the restoration of the salmon population within the Siuslaw. The Siuslaw Watershed Council created a place where all stakeholders with interest in the forest, environmentalists and timber companies included, could come to an agreement on the maintenance of the area. This change was so important because of the benefits to both the forest and humans alike.
This change in procedure did a number of different things;
-helped support characteristics of the thriving forest that used to be
-helped prevent destruction caused by storms
-helped create/fix it's aquatic environments for the salmon
-modern logging methods minimize the forest impact
-helps the local economy

I was impressed by the persons involved in these projects at their ability to find a solution that fits everyone's interests.

Raging Fires

1.  Until now, I have always thought of wildfires as something that only negatively affected the things it touches. I understand now that in many ways wildfires were an areas way of "spring cleaning" if you will. I was unaware that many environments produced natural "defenses" that enabled them to thrive off the effect of these fires. In the article, Fighting Fire with Fire, I learned that in the area of Montana that the article used as an example. the species of trees native to the area were naturally more "fire resistant" than the ones that occupy many of the space now that humans have stopped fires completely in the area. Although I still think I consider myself an "alarmist" I now see both sides of the coin. On one side, wildfires have proven to be beneficial and before human involvement, even burned differently and in "patches" which creates a diverse environment. I have to say though, "alarmist's" have a good point in being worried when it comes to environments that are not maintained and highly overgrown because these are the places that are most likely to produce an unstoppable fire.

2. Ecologist, Ryan Haugo, views wildfires as "inevitable and the ultimate contradiction". He believes that fire is a crucial part of our western forests and supports prescribed fire that "benefits people and nature" while working to eliminate "uncharacteristic fires" (another way of saying destructive fires).

3. After reading about the Giant Sequoias and the fire in Yosemite I learned a few new things:
- Giant sequoia's are a fire dependent species and are well adapted to handle burns
- The bark of Giant Sequoia's can grow up to two feet thick which helps insulate them from the fire
-The fire helps eliminate competing plants and provides great fertilizer in the form of ash.

Ready for Wildfire

1. Wildfires are an inevitable risk here in California and are a constant threat to people, animals and natural resources alike. It is your responsibility to be prepared for a wildfire with three simple steps; ready, set, go. Getting ready before a wildfire happens is the vital first step, especially before fire season. Step one is assessing your property for adequate defensible space (the space between your house and the neighboring property). This is the most practical first line of defensive to slow or halt the progress of fire. It is also important to keep surrounding brush and foliage well trimmed and without dead branches or leaves. The second step is set and refers to setting a family action plan in case of a wildfire. This includes planning your escape route (which roads will you take) and where your family will go in case a wildfire were to reach your home. The third step is go. This step means staying informed because emergency personnel may not always be able to warn everyone at once. Be ready to GO prior to evacuations and give your family the best chance of survival. 

2.  Bark beetles are a growing risk to the mortality of trees in California. In times of stress, like extreme drought, trees are unable to fend off bark beetles successfully. Signs of bark beetles include; change in the color of leaves to red or brown in the trees, red coffee ground material at the bottom of the tree, and reddish tubes of sap can alert you to a tree that has unsuccessfully fended off a bark beetle. Homeowners should thin out areas of dense weaker trees on their property in order to help the stronger trees gain access to water and better defend themselves from these pests. 

3.  On the same website, I learned what else a homeowner can do to help themselves during each different season. The spring season focuses mostly on preparing for the wildfire season to come while winter is the best time for cutting dead trees down. This was helpful because I learned that no matter what time of year you can always be working towards being prepared. 

The Secret Life of Mountain Lions

After watching The Secret Life of Mountain Lions, I am truly surprised by what I learned. I had always pictured cougars to be dangerous predators, the ones that would attack you from behind when you were camping or hiking. The video was very effective in changing my mind and helping me to realize how important these cougars are. The rare footage that the video provided was really powerful because it showed a side of these animals that most have probably never seen. I was surprised to see how affectionate these mountain lions were with their young and how attentive. I knew that many big cats leave their young in order to provide food but I never realized how much they interact with each other when they are all together. I couldn't believe the statistic that only 1 in 5 babies will survive in the end. By watching this video I definitely gained a better understanding of these beautiful animals, and frankly more respect for them. As if it's not hard enough being a wild animal in our world today, there are many factors that cougars must overcome. I really hope that more people get a chance to see this video and realize how important it is to save them.