By its very nature, primitivism must be local. We’ve had a great deal to say about the general theory of primitivism, and that will no doubt contiue, but you may have also noticed an increasingly local focus as we ourselves begin to take an increasingly local focus. And here’s one point where, as Zerzan put it, “the rubber hits the road.” And of course, it’s by its very nature of local interest, so this is especially for all the Pennsylvanians in the audience.

As we’ve so often said before, the ultimate solutions for our problem must lie in finding new ways to live, and there’s little any government agency can do to help that. But government can stay out of the way, and do less harm. There’s a couple issues we’re facing right now that could use your support, and the internet could hardly make them easier: just a little click, and you’ll have helped keep the goverment from despoiling our home.

1. Wilderness Areas in the Allegheny

The Forest Service has completed a revision to its forest plan, the first since 1986, and intended to guide forest policy over the next 10-15 years. It has some good things: reduced timber production, expanded wilderness, and perhpas most importantly, a plan to begin buying up the subsurface mineral rights below the Allegheny (previously discussed in “The Allegheny’s Black Gold“). It’s a good start, but a lousy place to stop. It’s Congress that designates wilderness areas, and though they generally just listen to whatever the Forest Service says, they’ve been known to listen to constituents, as well; a constituent motivated enough to step up on an issue like this is likely one willing to vote for them if they do, and most Congresspeople see new wilderness areas as very minor concessions, so there’s a real chance of making an impact here.

And the Campaign for America’s Wilderness couldn’t have made it simpler: just go to their online form, fill it out, and press the button. It will send the message to your Representative and Senators.

http://action.leaveitwild.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=31763

Wilderness area designation protects forests from further degradation; the Allegheny National Forest currently has only 2% wilderness, compared to an average of 11% throughout most of the eastern U.S. With more designated wilderness, the Allegheny will have a better chance of retaining a core where a functional ecology can begin to take root (or a permacultural zone 5, if you prefer).

See also the Citizens’ Wilderness Proposal for Pennsylvania’s Allegheny National Forest, and the Friends of Allegheny Wilderness in general.

2. Stop the Brush Hollow Salvage Project

Map of the Brush Hollow Salvage Project areas. See the Forest Service PDF for a larger version.

The Marienville Ranger Station is taking comments on the Brush Hollow Salvage Project.

This project proposes to salvage harvest 434 acres of dead and/or dying trees … Reforestation treatments are proposed for 426 acres; eight acres will not have reforestation treatments. These trees were windthrown or damaged in the July 2003 windstorm.¹

The Forest Service claims:

Salvage in MA 2.2 would restore a diverse seedling and sapling component improving forest structural conditions within an area managed for complex late structural forest conditions. Salvage in MA 8.6, the Kane Experimental Forest, will further long term research. Salvage in MA 3.0 will allow for the establishment of early structural forest stands, which are characteristic of this management area. There is a need to remove dead and/or dying trees followed by reforestation treatments within the three management areas in order to create a diversity of vegetation and age classes well distributed across the landscape, which are desired forest conditions. In addition, salvage of the blowdown will recover some of the economic value of the wood and reduce hazardous fuels, reduce insect and disease potential, and remove hazardous trees from trails.²

I would expect a stronger grasp of ecology from the Forest Service. Such salvage projects strip forests of dead and dying trees, removing habitat for animals and fungi, and removing what will quickly become rich soil. Basic ecology shows that dead and dying trees are crucial to an ecosystem’s health; they create the living soil that the whole forest grows up out of. By stripping them out, the Forest Service is ripping the floor right out from under a forest trying to heal itself. They’ve apparently forgotten basic ecology, and public comments are tallied and taken into consideration, so take a moment to what they should already know.

For more information on how this kind of salvage operation hurts forest ecologies, see “Managing for Forest Ecosystem Health: A Reassessment of the ‘Forest Health Crisis’” by Robert L. Peters, Evan Frost, and Felice Pace, and “Salvage Logging: The Loss of Ecological Reason and Moral Restraint,” by Chris Maser.

You can mail comments to:

Marienville Ranger District
HC #2, Box 130
Marienville, Pa. 16239
ATTN: Brush Hollow Salvage Project, Rob Fallon

Or call them at (814) 927-6628. Their fax number is (814) 927-2285.

Or email comments to comments-eastern-allegheny-marienville@fs.fed.us

Oral or hand-delivered comments will be accepted during Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Comments should be received or postmarked by June 18, 2007.