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Through VA and NC
Forest in the Mid-Atlantic
Coastal forest region are amazing. I
traveled along the coast last week through SE Virginia and SE
North Carolina to meet with activists, members, and other organizations
concerned with International Papers forestry practices in the region.
It’s a shame that some of the biggest paper packaging mills
in the world (of course owned by International Paper) are being fed by
endangered ecosystems that cannot be found anywhere else in the world! And, for fast food packaging of all
things.
I was lucky enough to be in Wilmington as the same time as Lawernce
Earley, the author of Looking for Longleaf. He talks so passionately about
these incredible forests! Check out his
website. http://larryearleyphotography.com/ It was inspiring to watch his presentation
and to meet him afterwards and talk about Dogwood Alliance’s work to protect
and restore this ecosystem.
 I went to some of the forests he talked about, and it was an
awe-inspiring moment. I also went
through many clearcuts along the way, which was sad and astonishing. Here’s a photo of me in a clearcut we walked
through that is in the sourcing area of the International Paper mill in
Franklin, Virginia.
It was fun meeting with all of the activists, talking about the
campaign, and hearing all of the awesome ideas and sharing the passion people have
for our forests! I'm looking forward to Ruth, our new organizer who starts on the ground full time in November.
Till next time,
Eva
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It is this landowner who pruchased the land years ago, possibly paid to plant trees, paid to maintain property boundaries and a good road system, and has paid property taxes yearly. They have routinely picked up garbage dumped on their property, tolerated minor vandalism, and may have had a fire or two set by an arsonist.
Having invested in the land and timber, they made a decision to harvest the timber. Possibly to pay for a child's college education, fund their retirement, or a thousand other legitimate reasons. Did you ask? Did you try? Do you even care?
As a forester who works with landowners, I bet they were sad as well. They sweated and toiled over the land and trees for decades. However, they knew they were going to cut the trees when they were planted, the time arrived, and the trees were cut. But this is not the end. They have probably made arrangements to have the site replanted, seedlings have been purchased, and sometime early next year a crew will arrive at the site, pile out of the vehicles, and the process begins again so that the next generation benefits from the stewardship of the current generation.
You mention Larry Earley's book. In the Epilogue, on p. 267, is the following: "Today I feel more at home among those who believe that humans took on the role of managing forests the moment they set foot on the continent, that we have been managing the longleaf pine forests in one way or another for the last twelve thousand years, and that our responsibilities to manage these forests well are greater today than they have ever been." I agree 100%.