There have been few characters of American folklore with the stature
of Paul Bunyon. This legendary hero of an earlier day possessed
strength, speed, and skill that matched the vastness of North America.
According to legend, Paul Bunyan and his giant blue ox, Babe, left
many a mark on the landscape, receiving credit for creating Puget
Sound, the Grand Canyon, and the Black Hills, among others. A lumberjack
hero admired by all who read or heard of him.
On the third, full weekend of June
Encampment Wyoming hosts the annual Rocky Mountain Champion Lumberjack
Completion where
loggers
come from
all over the country to compete for the coveted title. Chips fly during
this competition using chain saws, axes and hand saws, the men and
women competitors cut down trees competing in events that include:
Tree Felling, two-man handsaw tree felling, two-man handsaw, two-woman
handsaw, power saw log bucking, one-man handsaw, man & woman handsaw
team, choker setting, axe chopping, pole throw, axe throw, power saw
log bucking, power saw log bucking, and the mad loggers chainsaw throw.
It is refreshing to hear that this
proud profession is still celebrated despite vilification by America’s
tree huggers who have turned a blind eye to their need for timber
products
in their crusade to reserve
our forests for the Bark Beetle and fire.
Scientists and forest managers continue to tell us
proactive forest management is a solution for overcrowded, unhealthy,
and fire-prone
forests. Thinning and logging reduces fuels and can make wildfires
far less devastating while making mountain communities far safer. But
some refuse to listen.
Estranged Greenpeace founder Patrick Moore in his effort to bring sanity
to the debate has published Pacific Spirit: The Forest Reborn, and
Greenspirit: Trees Are the Answer, two books that bring science and
ecology to the discussion on the importance of using the forest resources
in a pragmatic and responsible way. Moore says that, above all, sensible
environmentalists rely on scientific evidence. They believe in compromise
and cooperation, and work hard to find constructive solutions to real
issues. A tactic his former colleagues of the environmental movement
find hard to swallow.
Proof that Patrick Moore’s
approach is bearing fruit is the Sustainable Forestry Initiative
(SFI), a comprehensive
system of principles, objectives
and performance measures developed by foresters, conservationists,
and scientists that combine the perpetual growing and harvesting
of trees with the long-term protection of wildlife, plants, soil
and water
quality. There are currently over 150 million acres of forestland
(equaling 24 Yellowstones) in North America enrolled in the SFI
program, making
it among the world's largest sustainable forestry programs.
Here in eastern Idaho and western Wyoming it is a shame
that logging has come to a screeching halt. Due to our overabundance
of squeaky
wheels here in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem our forests are being
managed for recreation only. This has triggered the death of our forest
products industry which dates back to the time of our settlers.
Throughout the Bridger-Teton and Caribou-Targhee National
forests vast stands of bug-killed trees are increasingly visible.
Our recent
draughts
have made our trees susceptible to Bark Beetle infestation. Decreased
tree moisture prevents the manufacture of tree sap which is the trees
protection from Bark Beetle infestation. Our draught has abated for
now but we are still left with millions of bug-killed trees and a thriving
population of Bark Beetles seeking another opportunity for exponential
growth during our next dry spell.
When we choose not to log our forests, by default we
are choosing to look at burnt forests instead. Vast stands of dead
timber are
fires
waiting to happen and when they do vast stands of health forest will
burn with them.
Trees of our national forests are a natural resource. When a tree is
cut down, we plant another. Renewability makes the forest different
from many other resources. Since 1950, nearly 95 million acres has
been replanted nation wide. Since then Western timber resources have
increased each year. Properly managed, forests will last forever, while
still supplying the wood products we all need. It’s a never-ending
sustainable cycle.
Whoever wins the Rocky Mountain Champion Lumberjack
Completion has achieved an accomplishment that Paul Bunyon would
be proud
of. All
who compete can be proud of keeping a fine tradition alive. All who
have the tenacity to carry on the honorable tradition of logging
in our woods deserve our gratitude for risking life and limb
to harvest
products we need and making our forest homes a safer place, not our
wrath for harvesting products we need and making our forest homes
a safer place.
