Selective Logging or 'Stealth Stealing?"

For years, environmental activists have decried the deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest.

For background, there are a number of ways to harvest lumber. One can go in to a patch of land, cut down everything, bring in the heavy equipment in the newly bald area, and go to town. It's more economical, but has questionable environmental consequences and leaves an ugly patch on the landscape.

The other method is called "selective logging": a lumber company takes only marketable trees, and steers the log through the bush back to the mill, around the still growing juvenile trees. It's far more environmentally friendly, leaves the forest canopy and ground intact, and is far more expensive to operate.

So selective logging is a good thing - right? Not according to this article in the UK Sunday Times.

This is biased reporting run amok, folks. With a headline of "Amazon's illegal loggers know we can't see the lost wood for trees," the reporter accuses companies of "exploiting less easily detectable logging techniques."

My personal favourite quote is "In recent years, as logging has come under greater scrutiny, some operators have taken to stealthily extracting specific types of tree one by one, with the forest canopy covering their tracks."

I'm boggled folks. I really am. It's become clear that the only logging option which some folks will find acceptable is no logging at all. But if that's the case - don't be throwing environmentally friendly harvesting practices under the bus in your quest for an unrealistic end goal.

Lesbian Turtles?

More fearmongering from global warming activists today. Matt Drudge has highlighted a report that says because sea turtle gender is dictated by water temperature during the egg-development process, the world could see a population of exclusively female sea turtles.

I'd link to it, but because the reports on Drudge change so quickly, I'll cut and paste:
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"Global warming could create all-female turtle populations: scientists
Wed Oct 05 2005 10:58:53 ET

Global warming could have devastating effects on migratory species, including the possible disappearance of male sea turtles, a study will warn on Thursday.

A research team led by the British Trust for Ornithology said climate change could disrupt migration and breeding for many animals, with dire consequences for vulnerable species like the marine turtle.

Warmer climates could result in exclusively female turtle populations because the gender of hatchlings is affected by water temperature, the study said.

In addition, a third of turtle nesting sites in the Caribbean could be destroyed by rising seas, it warned.

Whales and polar bears, as well as birds that migrate across the expanding Sahara desert, are among the other species most potentially affected.

"The report is sobering," said British biodiversity minister Jim Knight, attending a European Union nature summit in Aviemore, Scotland.

"Because they rely on such separated and often diverse habitats, migratory birds and animals seem to be especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

"They are among the first creatures to show us the effects of climate change on wildlife. Some of the problems they are experiencing now are problems we can expect to see in other animals in the decades ahead," he said.

While warmer temperature could benefit some species, it may force others to extinction, the report warned.

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I think it's relevant to point out the use of the words "could." As in - "We're not entirely sure but this COULD happen." I think it's also cute that the same study also openly admits that warmer temperatures COULD benefit some species.

On a side note, I've been asked several times why Checkmate Public Affairs 'denies' global warming. We don't deny the realities of climate change - whatever those realities may be. What we are opposed to is junk science, fearmongering and innuendo in order to drive home a point, rather than relying on actual data and reasoned debate.