The Wildlands Project [Slide Show] Page 9

Within the Wildlands Project there is a strong movement to affect what happens on private land. In early 1995, Appalachian Science in the Public Interest (ASPI) hosted the Forest Commons meeting in Richmond, Ky. Although ASPI is not a Wildlands Project affiliate, Heartwood, who helped host the conference, is. Several Wild Earth writers and staff attended the meeting.

Mary Byrd Davis, WE associate editor; John Davis, WE editor; Wendell Barry, a popular deep ecology writer; and Eric Freyfogle, a contributing author to WE , were all in attendance.

The next WE featured articles by Al Fritch, Wendell Barry, and Paul Kalisz, all of whom had addressed the meeting.

Highlights of Sustainable
Forestry or Ecoforestry

Photo by Chattooga River Watershed Coalition.

1) Trees considered for harvesting after reaching somelarge DBH that is site and species specific; 30-36" for good sites.

2) Trees that die before reaching desired DBH are not harvested,but left to become snags and downed logs.

3) Harvesting is by single-tree selection with individualtrees considered on a 10 year cutting cycle and never harvested until judgednot vigorous to survive another 10 years.

4) Every tree has its own rotation age and that long livedspecies such as White Oak could conceivably be tended for 3-4 centuriesbefore harvesting.

5) Logging should use low-impact harvesting techniques,i.e. horse logging.

From Kalisz, a University of Kentucky forestry professor, we get a picture of what is meant by "Ecoforestry". While this type of management might promote a forest preferred by Wildlanders, it places an unusual hardship on forest landowners themselves.

"To promote recognition that the environment and itsinhabitants are endangered by unsustainable human activities."

"To increase the resources available to address environmentalconcerns."

--Foundation Watch,
vol. 1, #9

Perhaps the Wildlands project is too far-fetched to ever succeed. However, be aware of one important thing: there is a tremendous amount of money being put into these plans by corporate and private foundation. Some of these givers have even formed the Environmental Grantmakers Association, which oversees and directs donations to groups like the Wildlands Project, and its affiliates.

Through their annual reports we can get an idea of the scope of these foundation’s giving.