Earth Day

While I was touring the Temperate Rainforest that surrounds Juneau Alaska, I was learning from a Tlingit Guide about the Rain Forest and the special relationships that exists in the Rain Forest.  The Tongass National Forest lies within the heart of the temperate Rain Forest of  Southern Alaska.

The area is very rocky and the soil is shallow because of the rocks.  The trees that grow there have to be persistent to grow so tall in such harsh conditions.  The rocks make the trees produce shallow root systems that spread out and intertwine with neighboring trees.  This intertwining of root systems provides a layer of protection for the trees as they depend on each other when the winds get high.

Persistence & Pals in Tongass National Forest by Elise Hearn 2009

This idea of persistence and Pals made me think of how we live our lives and do business each day.  We often have “shallow roots” and need the help of our Pals to survive the perils of high winds of life.  We are much like the temperate rainforest, we need each other to be able to flourish in this world.  We have to depend on keeping our Pals close by, for by ourselves, we will not stand up in the face of the first strong blow!

Unfortunately, this beautiful temperate Rainforest, The Tongass National Forest is being threatened again by logging.  The rain forests of the world contain old growth timbers that cannot be replaced.  “Since the 1950’s nearly 70 percent of the ancient hemlock stands have been roaded and logged. The rampant destruction has come at a great ecological cost to the Tongass and at a great financial cost to American taxpayers.”  says the Alaska Chapter of the Sierra Club.

The wood they provide is not needed for building.  It is desired for show, the wood from these irreplaceable old growth trees is not really needed to build homes.  Instead this wood goes for show! Vanity would have us cut down and destroy the very lungs of the earth, while having a fancy home thousands of miles away in a foreign country look “fabulous”!  Not acceptable.  Please help the Alaska Wildlife League, Alaska Sierra Club, Alaska Audubon and others.

We must let this administration know that we value this temperate Rainforest and want to save this precious resource.  We cannot replace this forest.  It is the home to Bald Eagles, Moose, Elk, and more.  This habitat once cut, leaves little for the wild life and often ruins the creeks that flow through them causing problems for the salmon trying to return home each fall. To stop this cutting of the temperate Rain Forest with taxpayer dollars no less!, contact the White House and President Obama.  Thanks for protecting the Rain Forests!