Responding to a reader of this blog, Dennis Percher, The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of South Mountain Reservation, defended the deer kill as the only solution to maintaining a healthy forest.
In an email to this blog's reader, Percher cited Gail Keirn, Public Affairs Specialist, for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Keirn has indicated that makers of Gonacon have not yet submitted the registration package to the Environmental Protection Agency for the approval of GonaCon pending the completion of additional documents.
Kerin also indicated that "once that is done, it will be another '12 to 18 months' until approval.
She went on to say that by that point, the Reservation population can hopefully be brought down to a level where we want to stabilize the herd.
Percher concluded his own argument based on Keirn's statements that: "We cannot regenerate the forest without the deer population being under control. And without regeneration, the forest as we know it will continue to die."
All of this is circuitous logic. And, apparently, there are many who are buying into this circuitous argument and repeating the same party line. The Conservancy is even getting NJ Audubon to back their logic by stating that bird species are disappearing, again drawing the nebulous line back to defoliation, and, ultimately, back to the deer.
But let's back up.
If the main reason for the deer kill is the defoliation of South Mountain Reservation, then shouldn't we be absolutely certain that the deer are the main--- if not only---- reason for the defoliation?
According to another reader of this blog who has done extensive research, the defoliation is not the only or even major reason.
"Forests everywhere in New Jersey and other states are failing due to fragmentation, sprawl, the draining of wetlands, the clear-cutting of forests, pollution, invasive species, climate changes, and the acid rain that has been falling throughout the entire 20th century. In addition the soil in most areas was already acidic because the many rocks are acidic.
Decades of acid precipitation have removed alkalinity and lowered the pH of the forest soil. Liming is necessary to improve soils and grow new trees, particularly acid-sensitive species such as sugar maple and red oak. In addition, liming has been shown to increase the number and diversity of forest birds and wildflower species. Liming of areas may increase the ability of the soil to regenerate plant and tree life, but killing the deer will not.
Although deer are a part of the forest equation, the issues involving forest ecology and regeneration are complex with many contributing variables. Deer are constantly villainized, but forest soils are a far bigger problem than the deer. Light is also a limiting factor due to forest canopies."
Are the forests really bare because of the deer, or are all the supporters for the deer kill closing their eyes to the reality of forest defoliation? Or put another way, despite the greater number of people who saw the emperor finely attired, there was one (and only one) voice from the crowd who called it as it was. The emperor was bare. And so is the story of the deer killing the forest and reducing bird populations. Let's call this for what it is.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
A Bare forest or Bare Emperor?
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2 comments:
The NJ Audubon Society has called for the mass killing of deer in the South Mountain – incorrectly blaming them for inhibiting forest re-growth. Hunting will merely increase the herd. There is no reason to reduce deer numbers in order to enhance forest regeneration.
Last year, the National Audubon Society quantified what birders and other outdoors people have known for years: Many of America's most common bird populations have plummeted over the last 40 years, the bobwhite, the biggest loser, by 82 percent. Greg Butcher, the Audubon Society's national bird conservation director, was quick to point out that while none of the birds was in danger of becoming extinct, the declines indicated serious problems that should -- and can -- be addressed.
The main reason for the decline, he (National Audubon Society) said, is habitat loss -- reduction in grasslands because of intensive farming, a loss of forests due to suburban sprawl, and loss of wetlands because of industrialization. Echoing other studies, however, he said climate change exacerbated habitat loss. And, so many chemicals are used on farms, on lawns, in parks and by industry.
National Audubon does not blame deer.
Essex County should Not permit LETHAL deer management in the South Mountain Reservation.
A 1989 report from the U.S. General Accounting Office showed that many refuge managers considered hunting a "harmful use" of refuge lands and more than half advocated for an end to it. The Fish and Wildlife Service itself has noted a "significant decline" in the number of certain migratory birds that rely on refuges. Indeed, it has referred to the "well documented" adverse effects of sport hunting.
Great choice of image for your post.
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