The prof from India is truly a wise man. When we factor in the so called 'opportunity costs' associated with our understandings and decisions we begin to make different and better choices. I was fortunate to be able to attend the U of Montana school of forestry way back in the 60's and they were teaching the real and true value of our forests way back then. Some of the urban myths around forests persist to this day. Like plant a tree for every one cut. Actually, maple forests for instance (as an example) self propagate almost too well and to maintain a healthy forest requires careful removal of just the right trees at the right time to keep the forest in balance and productive. If we clear cut to the extent we have to re-plant an even aged replacement forest we might want to look at how harvest and with what priorities. I do not mean to be controversial but this is a really worthwhile post. I look forward to other responses. No matter what the conversation, it is good for us.
Indeed it is. Or, maybe to look at it differently, that's the real value of what those trees have done for us over the past 100 years. When we burn a piece it releases all the heat from the sun during it's life that is converted into wood. We release all that stored up sunshine heat over a few hours. Its so amazing to me. And the trees that grow in their place now absorb the carbon and give us back oxygen. Nice trade off.
