I found the article on the value of Washington’s forests wonderfully uplifting and applaud the editor for putting it on the front page (“Washington’s old-growth forests capture carbon better than nearly any other,” The Columbian, Oct. 14). I wish it could be shouted from the rooftops for all to hear.
The very idea that the forests of the world are capturing one-third of the world’s carbon emissions is incredible, but it begs the question, “Why in this world are we still arguing about whether or not to cut into the last remaining old-growth forests to make a buck?” California is down to less than 5 percent of its once-mighty redwood forests.
Telling is that the only old-growth forests left in our country are in parks or owned and managed by the federal government. This speaks to the need for collective regulation to guard against our propensity to foul our own nest through greed and reckless power grabbing. It is the old growth that may someday play a decisive role in providing future generations with clean air and a balanced ecosystem.
