Andy Kerr
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Top Line: In these dark times for nature, if not also the republic, it is all the more important not only to oppose but also to propose. I have either been part of or witnessed a multitude of gatherings of a few people uniting and proposing something that—at the time—was entirely out of reach, out of…
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This is the second in a series of two Public Lands Blog posts on big old trees. Part 1 exploded the myth that big old trees slow in their rate of growth as they age and also introduced the concept of tree-related microhabitats. Part 2 examines a new scientific paper on the state of medium-sized and large…
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Top Line: Big old trees play out-sized roles in a forest stand in terms of biodiversity, carbon storage, and carbon sequestration. This is the first in a series of two Public Lands Blog posts on big old trees. Part 1 explodes the myth that their rate of growth slows as they age and also introduces the concept…
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Top Line: The excesses of the executive branch will need to be checked by the judicial branch, the legislative branch, and/or the people. Figure 1. The official 2025 portrait of Donald J. Trump, 47th president of the United States of America. Note the striking similarity to the official mugshot in Figure 6. Source: The White House (Wikipedia).…
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Top Line: Like bankruptcy, the death of the Northwest Forest Plan has proceeded slowly and might end quickly. Figure 1. An old-growth forest of Douglas-fir and western redcedar. Source: Sandy Lonsdale (first appeared in Oregon Wild: Endangered Forest Wilderness). Note: I wrote the following without considering President Trump’s recent executive order pertaining to federal forestlands. I didn’t want the…
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The Trump administration believes that unless it can be sold or collateralized, it has no value.
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Top Line: While the election of Donald Trump is a setback for the conservation of mature and old-growth forests, such can be overcome. Figure 1. Old-growth forest in the western Cascades of Oregon on the Willamette National Forest. Source: Elizabeth Feryl (first appeared in Oregon Wild: Endangered Forest Wilderness). It began with a bang, with…
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Top Line: Many bitter lemons can make quite fine lemonade, but only if the conservation community reinvents itself. As I sat down the morning after the election to pen some thoughts about the existential threat that Americans just elected to a second term, I went back and reviewed my Public Lands Blog post from eight…
