Month: May 2019
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Juniper, Wildfire and Climate Change
Juniper are more common on slopes and rocky terrain. Photo George Wuerthner The recent article on juniper mortality in central Oregon demonstrates how most forestry professors have little ecological understanding of ecosystem processes nor even the latest ecological science. In the RG article, an Oregon State University forestry professor suggests a lack of low severity…
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Bison: Still Not Back From The Brink (Reposted from Mountain Journal)
THE RESCUE OF AMERICA’S NATIONAL LAND MAMMAL IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GREATEST CONSERVATION SUCCESS STORIES EVER AND YET IT’S HARD TO FIND MANY WILD HERDS ON THE MAP by Jim Bailey During the 20th century, Montana took pride in bringing several species of large mammals, especially big game, back from the brink of extinction. But…
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Undue political influence on grazing decisions in eastern Oregon.
Western Watersheds Project (the organization that I am the Executive Director of), WildEarth Guardians and the Center for Biological Diversity are fighting the reinstatement of grazing on four allotments in eastern Oregon that are permitted to Hammond Ranches. In part, we argue that the Hammonds don’t have a great track record and are thus undeserving…
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Lessons From Yellowstone
As we ponder the future of public lands in Montana, including what areas deserve protection as Wilderness, it is worthwhile to look back in history to see how past protective measures were viewed. In 1872 with the establishment of Yellowstone National Park many Montana citizens were outraged. For example, the Helena Gazette opined: “We regard…
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Griz Expert Says ‘Mountain Bikes Are A Grave Threat To Bears’
WHEN IT COMES TO SAFEGUARDING BEARS, SCIENTISTS SAY WILDERNESS-CALIBER LANDS, FREE OF RIDERS, ARE IMPORTANT TO BRUIN PERSISTENCE Reposted from Mountain Journal with permission of the author, Todd Wilkinson (click at original link for photos) — Does mountain biking impact wildlife, any more than hikers and horseback riders do? More specifically: could rapidly-growing numbers of…
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Potential For Wolf Restoration In Oregon
I wrote this review of the potential for wolf restoration in Oregon back in 1998. It is interesting to see that many of the predictions I made have materialized. Author: George Wuerthner ABSTRACT: Wolves (Canis lupus) were native to Oregon, and reported from throughout the state. Like much of the West, wolves were persecuted and…
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Governor Bullock’s Forest Council Biased Towards Timber Industry
Governor Bullock recently created the Montana Forest Action Advisory Council that is biased towards logging and is dominated by timber industry interests and supporters to “reduce wildfire risk.” I don’t expect the Governor to be an expert on wildfire or forest ecology, but it is clear from the makeup of his council that its primary…
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Social Carrying Capacity Politspeak Bamboozle
by DAVID MATTSON Reprinted from Counterpunch with permission of the author — As a scholar and social scientist I get annoyed when concepts are deployed for partisan purposes without regard for intellectual integrity. Having said that, I suspect that most politicians would find my distress silly, which is to be expected of a breed that exists…