Tree Hugger Busted

Some radical environmentalists see mankind, especially commercial lumbermen, as the destroyer of the environment; the fact is that mankind is part of the environment.

Yes, we effect the environment—and sometimes that effect is damaging to our planet. However, commercial forests are well-managed, renewable resources. Despite this, some people would never have us fell a tree to mill lumber for any purpose. Such a stringent line of reasoning is impractical.

The actions of radical environmentalists endanger those who work in the lumber industry and, quite often, harm themselves in the process of carrying out those actions. Spiking (driving spikes into trees to deter lumbermen from using their chainsaws) and other radical, harmful actions is denying the fact that mankind, by its very existence, often modifies nature and, in consequence, reorders or changes the natural environment.

Spikings and other radical actions often cause death and/or serious injury to those in the lumber industry—and themselves--and grief for the families of both sides.

Endangering lives to save mature trees or forests that are normally replenished by seedlings is hard to understand.

What do you think?