Take a stand for the forests

Way back in the days when the grass was still green, and the pond was still wet, and the clouds were still clean. The Lorax

With these delightful words Dr. Seuss made a prophetic warning. The Lorax discovers the trees are gone and only stumps are left. “I meant no harm. I most truly did not. But I had to grow bigger. So bigger I got,” the Once-ler explains his environmental crime.

California is on fire and deadly smoke is spreading miles away. Rains may bring mudflows, increasing the damages. Carbon from years of burning fossil fuels has changed the climate. Blaming radical environmentalists and pretending we have too many trees and too many weeds are climate crimes. Donald Trump and Ryan Zinke must go.

The true story of the forest

Nature knows how to care for the forests, magical ecosystems full of life. Before the European invasion, forests were thriving with magnificent trees. Most forests were cut down by the “illegal immigrants” to build railroads, grow crops, and burn as fuel.

“Nature’s Temples, the complex world of old forests,” tells the story from an ecological perspective. We didn’t always know trees capture carbon from the atmosphere. Before Leonardo Da Vinci, the soil was said to be their source of food. Leonardo knew this was wrong, but it took many years to discover carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight built the plants. The total surface area of the leaves capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide makes forests sacred land.

Wanted: Dead or Alive

Dead trees sell for $6 per ton in Arkansas – harvesting and shipping not included. Live trees in their natural habitat are priceless. Forests filter water and air, control floods, produce oxygen, and provide shade and homes for wildlife. The role of the forests has changed from a wood basket to nature’s gift to life.

Standing for the Forests

Carbon dioxide has always been around, we can’t see it, touch it, or smell it. Today, we have a massive amount changing the climate and overheating the planet. Protecting the forests from loggers and arsonists would seem to be logical, but the US Forest Service claims thinning and prescribed fires are needed, based on obsolete management plans. When they see forests, all they see is money.

Arkadelphia is getting the short end of the stick

Pretending to improve the local economy by selling the forests is flawed. Forest owners would sell trees at the mill rates. When you drive behind a logging truck blocking the traffic, think of a funeral procession, dead trees on their way to the mill, sold for $240 per truckload.

The Shandong Sun Paper mill is mentioned by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission as their highest achievement. It has not even been built. The true story of the Sun Paper project is a state secret. The project has been subsidized with federal, state, and county funds. This is like buying 11 cows for $10,000. How much did I pay per cow? I called George, my accountant. He said, “You paid $1,000 per cow and got one for free.”

The Sun Paper $1.8 billion is capital investment. Chairman Li will own 100 percent of the mill. Li can run it any way he wants. The mill is not a public park or tourist attraction. No one in the US will benefit from the cardboard sent to China. The costs of highway construction and repairs, the Ouachita River diversion for the mill, the water treatment plant, sewer, rail spur, and everything outside of the mill are real money, paid by our taxes, carbon footprint, and public health. Has anyone called George?

This mythical fluff mill that never was would open the doors for other Chinese mills if ever built.

Why fit in when you were born to stand out?

Dr. Seuss asked a great question. Stand your ground, don’t look the other way. Please visit a new climate and environmental justice platform, “Stand for the forests,” www.stand4forests, bringing together top environmental and Nature lovers.

Dr. Luis Contreras