[OutsiderFan]

I was in Oregon at this time last year and saw some of those clear cut areas. It's just gross.

My belief is always that the best solutions come from keeping things in balance. When it comes to fires health, I find myself struggling with what is natural and what isn't, and what should be considered appropriate human intervention. If we never felled a tree, we could let fire burn with impunity and be letting nature take its course.  Of course that isn't reality. 

So with human impact already having had a certain influence on forests, it probably makes sense to find the medium between letting everything grow and clear cutting. The logging companies have issues with not being able to clear cut because it isn't as cheap and profitable that way.  The way to make it more expensive is to enact laws that impose penalties for clear cutting.  Then of course you have the "but how will we build anything anyone can afford if wood isn't cheap" arguments.

Such a multi-faceted and complex issue.  I'd argue it's even more difficult to figure out than an affordable and effective health care system.

[OutsiderFan]

I was in Oregon at this time last year and saw some of those clear cut areas. It's just gross.

My belief is always that the best solutions come from keeping things in balance. When it comes to fires health, I find myself struggling with what is natural and what isn't, and what should be considered appropriate human intervention. If we never felled a tree, we could let fire burn with impunity and be letting nature take its course.  Of course that isn't reality. 

So with human impact already having had a certain influence on forests, it probably makes sense to find the medium between letting everything grow and clear cutting. The logging companies have issues with not being able to clear cut because it isn't as cheap and profitable that way.  The way to make it more expensive is to enact laws that impose penalties for clear cutting.  Then of course you have the "but how will we build anything anyone can afford if wood isn't cheap" arguments.

Such a multi-faceted and complex issue.  I'd argue it's even more difficult to figure out than an affordable and effective health care system.