http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004433574_trees23m.html
I recently came across this article from the Seattle Times titled, “State praised for logging sustainability” where Washington State’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) earned an award for their sustainable logging practices that overall saved 145,000 acres of forest in the Pacific Northwest region. While this is an excellent accomplishment, how and why did the Washington state government aim to achieve these top grades? Or more specifically, what made the DNR start to regulate deforestation more in our state? The answer that comes to mind is the activists in the Pacific Northwest.
Activists in Washington State such as the Seattle Audubon Society, Conversation Northwest, and several others have been working hard for the past twenty years in hopes of conserving Washington State’s forests. These organizations are excellent examples of a public sphere, where individuals come together to discuss their interests of a certain topic, and thus forming a public opinion about it. Organizations such as those listed above believe that deforestation in our state is a public issue. It is a public issue because it affects all of society in regards to our air quality and the speeding up of climate change (allowing more emissions into the air), which is why so many environmentalists fight to bring it to our government’s attention. Public opinions on issues, such as deforestation, leads to political actions by governments, which is what led to Washington State’s ‘sustainable’ logging practices.
Although in the article, thousands of acres of forestry were saved, environmentalists in the Pacific Northwest viewed it only as a first step to many in protecting the forests throughout the area. The forests that were referenced in this article pertained to forests located in popular recreation sites such as Tiger Mountain in Issaquah and Capitol Forest in Olympia. While activists were happy with this accomplishment, they know that more needs to be done, and want the government to do more. "This is a relatively easy, safe step and not really changing management practices,” said Cantrell, Executive Director of Audubon, "If it is good enough for the liberal Puget Sound region, it should be good enough for all the lands around the state." So, what do we need to do to get the government to listen to our concerns? The answer is with the activists: continue to create a strong public opinion about deforestation that the government will listen to, and thus act on.
"When people generally are aware of a problem, it can be said to have entered the public consciousness. When people get on their hind legs and holler, the problem has not only entered the public consciousness — it has also become a part of the public conscience. At that point, things in our democracy begin to hum.” - Hubert Humphrey
Here is some cool organizations right here in the PNW who are fighting against deforestation:
http://www.seattleaudubon.org/sas/
http://www.conservationnw.org/
I recently came across this article from the Seattle Times titled, “State praised for logging sustainability” where Washington State’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) earned an award for their sustainable logging practices that overall saved 145,000 acres of forest in the Pacific Northwest region. While this is an excellent accomplishment, how and why did the Washington state government aim to achieve these top grades? Or more specifically, what made the DNR start to regulate deforestation more in our state? The answer that comes to mind is the activists in the Pacific Northwest.
Activists in Washington State such as the Seattle Audubon Society, Conversation Northwest, and several others have been working hard for the past twenty years in hopes of conserving Washington State’s forests. These organizations are excellent examples of a public sphere, where individuals come together to discuss their interests of a certain topic, and thus forming a public opinion about it. Organizations such as those listed above believe that deforestation in our state is a public issue. It is a public issue because it affects all of society in regards to our air quality and the speeding up of climate change (allowing more emissions into the air), which is why so many environmentalists fight to bring it to our government’s attention. Public opinions on issues, such as deforestation, leads to political actions by governments, which is what led to Washington State’s ‘sustainable’ logging practices.
Although in the article, thousands of acres of forestry were saved, environmentalists in the Pacific Northwest viewed it only as a first step to many in protecting the forests throughout the area. The forests that were referenced in this article pertained to forests located in popular recreation sites such as Tiger Mountain in Issaquah and Capitol Forest in Olympia. While activists were happy with this accomplishment, they know that more needs to be done, and want the government to do more. "This is a relatively easy, safe step and not really changing management practices,” said Cantrell, Executive Director of Audubon, "If it is good enough for the liberal Puget Sound region, it should be good enough for all the lands around the state." So, what do we need to do to get the government to listen to our concerns? The answer is with the activists: continue to create a strong public opinion about deforestation that the government will listen to, and thus act on.
"When people generally are aware of a problem, it can be said to have entered the public consciousness. When people get on their hind legs and holler, the problem has not only entered the public consciousness — it has also become a part of the public conscience. At that point, things in our democracy begin to hum.” - Hubert Humphrey
Here is some cool organizations right here in the PNW who are fighting against deforestation:
http://www.seattleaudubon.org/sas/
http://www.conservationnw.org/
BY: Stephanie A.
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