Director's Page, Summer 2002

Hot issues. There is certainly no shortage of hot topics related to conservation. So many in fact, that controversy seems to be a “constant” in our field of work. The general public is often frustrated with the endless debate and conflict. The Chattooga Conservancy is constantly looking for a fresh approach to reframe issues aimed at conflict resolution. Our goal is always action.

The best example of this “Conservancy” strategy is how we might address the issue of whether or not we humans are a causal factor in global warming. This is an important issue because after years of denial, even our government has concluded that there can no longer be any doubt that major changes in the Earth’s climate are now a reality. Today the debate has shifted from asking “whether” it is a reality to “why” it is occurring. Science seems to be split on the question, but many prominent scientists make a strong case for concern. Meanwhile evidence is mounting that the consequences of global climate change may be disastrous.

If the debate plays out like the recent controversy over the cause of the great fire season out West, it will be misfortunate for the environment. In that debacle, finger-pointing and the ensuing battle of experts fomented a stalemate. When the industry dominated Congress left for summer recess, they vowed upcoming legislation that will exclude the public while turning the “timber beast” loose to solve the problem with chainsaws.

We cannot afford to make the same mistakes with the global warming issue. Take a look at what is happening in northern Alaska around the Chuckhi Sea below the Artic Circle. There, where the average temperature has risen about 7 degrees in the last 30 years, the sea ice has retreated by 14 percent and the ice has thinned by 40 percent since the 1960’s as a result of global warming. Consequently, the village of Shishmaref is now actually sinking into the ocean. Villagers will soon hold a vote on the question of the possibility of relocating the whole village. North of Anchorage, a four million acre spruce forest is dying from the spruce bark beetle because of more favorable conditions for infestation as a result of temperature increases. Hundreds of miles of the Alaska pipeline are threatened by melting permafrost and wildfires are predicted to sweep across an area of dead trees twice the size of Yellowstone National Park. There is no doubt that these catastrophic events are underway in Alaska as a result of global warming, and are a harbinger of the worldwide consequences of climate change.

How then do we frame the debate over the cause of global warming to avoid paralyzing conflict? I would argue that given the risks as exemplified by the results of warming in Alaska, action should be taken now in the event that we are part of the problem. Action may be motivated by common sense, ethics, and out of concern for the risk we take with our children’s future. Those actions would be to drastically reduce “green house” gas emissions and to put an end to corporate domination of our planet’s natural resources. The key will be in the hands of citizens who advocate for conservation, who live according to this ethic, and who participate in society by voting according to a land ethic. The result would mean honest politics, reduced consumption, voluntary population control and locally based economic development. If we are part of the problem and we do nothing, the consequences are grave. If perchance we are not part of the global warming problem, we would be in a much better position to weather environmental changes--so we should be doing something either way.

Enjoy the rest of the summer and this Chattooga Quarterly. The staff and board of the Chattooga Conservancy greatly appreciate your confidence in our work through your membership. We strive constantly to give you information and fresh perspectives to advocate for our common goals. Together, let’s be a part of breaking the gridlock of endless debate by taking decisive action personally and as an organization.