Contact Me
Saturday, January 26, 2008
What Will The Earth Look Like For Our Grandchildren?
When I hike in the mountains and foothills of Colorado, I often look across valleys and wonder what they used to look like before we came along and plastered roads, houses, and big box stores everywhere they would fit. In my mind I can still see the wild lands that lie underneath all that we've done.
I put myself in the place of someone a hundred years ago and imagine how my breath would be taken away at the sight in front of me. The pristine majesty, the peace, the awe.
There is still so much beauty around us. Many people are working hard to protect it, and I am grateful for that.
(And there are those who are also working hard to rape the earth for profit.)
Now, in addition to the imbalance that we have created in our Rocky Mountains, we are facing a huge change as our mountain forests face their demise. Within the next five years, the pine beetle will have killed off most of our forests. I can't imagine our mountains with only a few trees. The Forest Service states that this deforestation will increase fires and flooding and affect our water supply.
I didn't read any mention of the loss of habitat for animals.
They also don't mention the changes that occur when the forests no longer cool the land or give our souls a place to rest and rejuvenate.
Will we soon only have photos of our beloved forests?
I put myself in the place of someone a hundred years ago and imagine how my breath would be taken away at the sight in front of me. The pristine majesty, the peace, the awe.
There is still so much beauty around us. Many people are working hard to protect it, and I am grateful for that.
(And there are those who are also working hard to rape the earth for profit.)
Now, in addition to the imbalance that we have created in our Rocky Mountains, we are facing a huge change as our mountain forests face their demise. Within the next five years, the pine beetle will have killed off most of our forests. I can't imagine our mountains with only a few trees. The Forest Service states that this deforestation will increase fires and flooding and affect our water supply.
I didn't read any mention of the loss of habitat for animals.
They also don't mention the changes that occur when the forests no longer cool the land or give our souls a place to rest and rejuvenate.
Will we soon only have photos of our beloved forests?
Labels: Forests, grieving, pine beetle
posted by Carol at 8:33 PM
4 comments
