It is very important to me that people begin to understand these discussions, as they dig deep into our culture, our ways of thinking and the projection into the future for us people.
The discussion about eradication of
Russian olives (and tamarisk I am sure) in the Santa Fe River bed, Michael
Smith and the city of Santa Fe is of great interest because sometimes the
people who are thinking that they are doing so much good and are so determined
to make the world pure and native are, sadly, xenophobic in nature, are not
fully informed and are tilting at windmills to change something back to a past condition
that seems idyllic and perfect. It might be good to look at people who have a
deep interest in the subject and actually know what they are talking about as
we confront these decisions; to have diverse populations or follow eradication
based groups that are needlessly fighting off change. Take some out when necessary and leave some
there and love them for what they really are. Please read this by Melissa
Lamberton: http://www.terrain.org/articles/27/lamberton.htm
-from a recent submission for letters to the editor Santa Fe New Mexican
This person, Melissa Lamberton, speaks volumes in her understanding of the nature of eradication efforts and of the facts on the ground about these trees that are so much in the news and the stimulus, not by their wills of course, for large amounts of money and emotional energy to be passed around. The need is for people to know the facts about these trees and get past the amazingly unfounded myths about them also. I have researched this subject for quite a while now and have come to the exactly same conclusions as Melissa and so she speaks for me when she talks; as if we had been working together on this for years. I also love her writing style and sense of place and fairness. I hope that this information and these ideas take root!
She also has written other interesting pieces on cougars and mountain sheep.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the thought provoking blog Thor. Of course these issues arise in birds also, and I read so many hateful and heartless comments in my birding groups about shooting and trapping non native species. It is too late to change it, and they have adapted to their lives here. Many other species, of course, have had to merge with non natives. It is a tough discussion, but one that needs to be considered. Thanks for this blog!
ReplyDeleteHi Cathie, I am excited about the new blog!
Delete