SPRING EQUINOX 1996 - Issue Number 35
But one fact of environment is missing, sometimes damagingly so. I find that knowledge of the natural environment extends into our fine anti-polluter minds mainly just so far as our human needs are met. In other words environment is for people, not for wildlife per se. We seek clean water, wise economics, personal well-being, scenic views, and so on, but don't know what we're doing to wildlife because we are ignorant on that aspect.So as Earth Day approaches, it seemed appropriate to devote this issue to the nonhuman living beings who inhabit the planet. This is a large topic and we were barely able to scratch the surface of it, so you can expect a return to this topic in future issues.
We attempted to look at questions relating to habitat protection and species preservation from local, regional and global perspectives.
Locally, we hear from Northwestern Michigan College instructor, Greg LaCross, who writes about the effects of habitat fragmentation on local plant and animal life. Two articles focus on Leelanau County--Barbara Cruden explains a wildlife inventory that is underway, and Bob Jones describes the beautiful Crystal River which is threatened by a golf course development. Two articles examine educational projects relating to local wildlife/habitat--Rebecca Lessard's raptor education project and a community-based water monitoring project being conducted by local students. And, two articles warn of potential threats to wildlife/habitat caused by human activity: nuclear power and oil and gas drilling.
Several articles focus on regional issues. Kima Kraimer visited the Upper Peninsula and talked to folks about the effects of logging on the land and life there. And we hear about a new Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Protection Program from Wil Cwikiel of the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council.
Questions relating to the Big Picture are addressed by Greg LaCross, again in his article on habitat fragmentation. In a reprinted article from Action Line, the Friends of Animals magazine, Betsy Swart takes a look at the effects of population growth and human activity on animals on the global level.
Several books are recommended for further study on this topic. First, Sarah Bearup-Neal reviews local author, Stephanie Mills' latest book, In Service of the Wild: Restoring and Reinhabiting Damaged Land, which covers local, regional and global restoration projects. And Stephanie takes us on a tour of her own bookshelf to recommend her personal favorites.
We slipped in a few articles that don't fit the theme but we thought were worthwhile additions. Tom Shea shares a follow-up article about visiting a classroom to talk about his trip to Hebron, and a piece describing a class he led with senior citizens. From Central America we have two articles, Martha Van Vleck Pierce (my sister) describes her experiences on a recent trip to Guatemala and Deans Stevens provides news from El Salvador.
As usual, we include news from the Neahtawanta Inn and Center, as well as our latest workshop schedule. We hope some of you will join us for a visit to the Inn or to attend a workshop in the next few months.
Whether or not we'll be able to adequately protect wildlife and preserve its habitat remains a question. I will close with several related questions, again from Barbara Cruden:
When developers point proudly to the "open space" in their PUD (planned unit development) plans, we need to inquire for what creatures? How will the creatures escape, if necessary? Where will they find water? and so on. And after we cut down that big old dead tree, where will the birds perch to get the un-leaf-obstructed view of predators and predatees, even fly-sized, that they must have?-Sally Van Vleck
Return to the Index of Synapse 35, Spring Equinox 1996