Word: underbrush
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...coming out of the House of Representatives reduce public comment and legal action on timber permits, let 50 logging contracts proceed and potentially open up about 14 million acres of the forests to logging while expanding a program where companies are able to log in areas where they clear underbrush in order to “prevent fires.” In addition, Bush recently opened up almost a million acres of old-growth forests in Alaska to logging, without Congressional approval. These actions are so radical that they were even repudiated by eight moderate Republicans who sent a letter...
...benefits to the economy of the region. Both of these rationales merely attempt to excuse the unconscionable destruction of the last of the American wilderness. Not only does it not make sense to cut down trees in order to save them, but it also defies all ecological wisdom. Clearing underbrush, not cutting down trees, most easily prevents fires. And even if there was no way to prevent these trees from being burned, then it would still be immeasurably better to let the trees burn rather than log them. The entire eco-system relies on the renewal of nutrients...
...DEAL WITH THEM For much of the 20th century, Americans treated forest fires as anathema, to be stamped out wherever they occurred. But experts now believe the zero-tolerance approach did more harm than good. Fires are part of the natural rhythm of the forests, clearing out underbrush and giving trees room to grow. You don't really fight wildfires, according to this view; you only postpone them. If we are going to learn how to coexist with fire, here is how we might start...
BUILD SMART If you have to build, use fire-resistant materials and clear out any underbrush and other combustibles...
...communities. A plaintive "where are you?" cry from within the bush is answered by a chorus of "checking," followed by individual shouts of "chalk" and "flour." Moments later a triumphant "on on!" rings out, a bugle sounds the battle charge, and the runners, dripping with sweat, burst from the underbrush. Casually slinging quips, jokes and benign insults with the easy camaraderie of old acquaintances, the 30-large herd mills around a clearing, in search of the next sign marked by chalk or flour to show where...