HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1141.008 2006-2008
On Communication 1141; Revised Grading & Grubbing.
D. Hunter Beyer 5-19-08
"Without trees, we cannot inhabit the earth."
Bill Mollison, grandfather of Permaculture.
1. WATER IS LIFE;
For every tree cut on this side of the island, one is sacrificed on the other.
Early last century, before the forests of Maui were cleared for cattle, Maui
was topped by what was called the "Great Cloud", a continuous
"standing cloud" that reached all the way to the then cooler, wetter
Kaho'olawe. Kaho'olawe is now a dessert.
Forests create, store, & transport moisture.
As the sun warms the land... cool, moist sea air is drawn in on the building air,
pulling it into & over the forest.
Condensation, evaporation, transpiration - clouds moving inland carry less &
less sea air & more forest air.
Forests returns its water to air & land, forming new rain clouds &
recharging aquifers.
Without forest, rain falls only on the coast.
Forests are great "lakes" of actively managed, purified & recycled water.
Desertification, worldwide, is directly linked to previous deforestation upwind.
It is enormously important to keep existing forests &
We need massive re-forestation, world-wide.
Flooding, erosion, silting of reefs; decimating fisheries.
There seems to be a prevalent belief that flooding is due to too much rain, so
it is rationalized that water should be gotten rid of as quickly as possible
through gutters, drainages, Corp. of Engineered canals...
Flooding is due to too few trees.
2. AIR IS LIFE;
Forests are 80% responsible for composition of Atmosphere;
remaining 20% is due to aquatic exchange.
Vog; it is a fact there is less vog within a closed canopy forest.
Come see for yourself.
3. CARBON-SEQUESTRATION;
" Measures to protect, restore, and sustainably manage forests offer
significant mitigation in climate change."
" Forest plants & soils drive the global carbon cycle by sequestering
carbon dioxide Although carbon uptake... eventually declines as trees
age, many mature forests continue to sequester carbon in their soils. "
"Worldwide, the greatest potential for carbon sequestration by forests
exists in tropical & subtropical regions."
Recognizing Forests' Role in Climate. Union of Concerned Scientists.
cam tom
Ref. To:
Ref. Date MAY 19 MOR
4. MULTI-PURPOSE;
"The world's forests provide many important benefits: Home to more
than half of all species living on land, forests also help slow global warming by
storing & sequestering carbon. Forest are sources of wood products. They
help regulate local & regional rainfall. and forests are crucial sources of food,
medicine, clean drinking water, and immense recreational, aesthetic, and
spiritual benefits for millions of people."
Recognizing Forests' Role in Climate. Union of Concerned Scientists.
5. HAWAIIAN SPECIES.
The Hawaiian rainforest, focusing in the Hawaii Volcano National Park has
the distinction of having two U.N. Designations: both a World Heritage Site & a
Biosphere Reserve.
"Of all the places in the world, I should like to see a good flora of
Hawai'i... it is the most isolated group in the world & each of the islands
themselves, well isolated from each other."
Charles Darwin, Naturalist.
'Ohi'a, Hapu'u, 'Olapa, 'Ama'u, Kawa'u, Manono, Mamaki, Pilo, Kopiko,
Maile, Loulu...
'Apapane, Tiwi, Elepaio, 'Akohekohe, 'Alala, 'Oma'o...
What our forest species need is a continuous closed canopy of 'Ohi'a as
wildlife corridors.
As a designer, I have heard too many times, from people who after
living here a couple of years, say, " If I had only known I never would have
clear-cut. Now how do I replace it? "
[sigh]
In England now, people need to apply for a permit to try to cut a tree,
& even better than that, all big old trees have a permanently protected
status.
As one of the tour guides at the ancient forest called Niaulani, at
Volcano Art Center's new site, I invite you to come see what you are
preserving. Free guided tours most Mondays.
E Malama I Ka Wao Kele.
"Respect the Rain Forest."
Your ancestor's will thank you,
your grandchildren with thank you,
& I thank you.
Sincerely,
Hunter