The Great Outdoors
Our forests still are not regenerating Slowly, the news is leaking out. I saw one minor newspaper story discuss this revelation. I suspect we will not see any major announcement by DCNR or the PGC.
There is the usual language deception that surrounds every hotly debated issue. There are those who will ignore the facts, those who will twist the reality and those who will advocate “kicking the can” down the road for decades before facing the truth. It may take many more months before the public will see the light of truth on this one.
So, what is the big news? The big news is that after five years of deer reduction our forests are still not regenerating in any significant or acceptable manner. Yes, there are pockets of success. Some areas have somewhat bounced back with zero deer densities. However, overall numbers like 75 percent to 80 percent are being thrown around to express the failure rate of forest regeneration in this state. Areas behind the fences are revealing no response. It is becoming glaringly obvious the “grand plan” is a failure. It is becoming glaringly obvious that many have a massive pile of egg on their face.
Of course, this unfolding story is not a surprise to many of us. We knew this was coming. I can recall radio interviewing Dr. Lee Frelich from the University of Minnesota, the most respect hardwood research university in the nation.
“Jim, you can not regenerate a hardwood forest with pH’s between 4 and 5”, were his exact words. It is amusing how PA continues to try to solve complex scientific problems with preposterous political solutions. Now, a matter of international consequence has fallen in the hands of DCNR.
You should recall DCNR has been twice certified by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) of California for practicing sustainable forestry methods. In both of these reports, DCNR was granted conditional certification based on implementing and continuing a major deer reduction program. No soil samples were taken. Neither of these documents impressed me as comprehensive analysis of our procedures. I can recall after reading these documents calling SCS and reading them the riot act. I told them their documents had the scientific value of toilet paper. SCS was not happy with my remarks. I am sorry, but what I read were political documents not scientific documents.
It seems to me DCNR now has an international dilemma on their hands. They have certification and a green stamp, but do they really? At this point isn’t DCNR’s certification null and void. They are cutting trees, but our forests are not regenerating. Is it not fraudulent to market timber claiming sustainable practices when our forests are collapsing right before our eyes? Is it not deceptive to prospective customers to boast of the green stamp when we are not deserving of a green stamp? How much of a premium has DCNR enjoyed from certification? Should that money be returned to those buyers of our timber? Should we stop all timbering on state land until this matter is resolved?
Should we not call SCS in on the carpet? After all, our certification was granted based on eradicating our deer herd, and we did, but our forests will still not sustain themselves. The state has lost billions in hunting revenue dollars to secure the coveted green stamp. Now, we don’t have a deer herd, or a legitimate forest certification status or a regenerating forest. Isn’t SCS responsible for this matter of international consequence? I wonder how the international community will respond when they realize our green stamp is actually bogus, but we continue to cut and our forests continue to collapse?
All of the above is a very serious matter. In these past few years, forest certification and deer hunting have collided head-on. Hunting has lost. DCNR’s goals of 0-5 deer per square mile to maintain forest certification will destroy hunting forever. It is amusing to hear Secretary Michael DiBerardinis defend the Rendell Administration as pro-hunting, while DCNR pursues 0-5 deer per square mile as a goal.
Nothing short of legislative hearings will resolve this matter in a reasonable period of time. Let us not forget that the players in this game have maintained their “kill the deer” professional opinions for literally decades. To ask them to change or even modify their opinions at this time is the equivalent of asking them to admit they have been wrong for their entire careers.
At this point we need legislative intervention and curative legislation to make certain a debacle of this magnitude is never again forced upon the citizens of this Commonwealth.
Jim Slinsky is the host and producer of the “Outdoor Talk Network”, a nationally syndicated, outdoor-talk radio program. For a station near you or to contact Jim, visit his website at www.outdoortalknetwork.com