Don Gasper sent in the following three items from Common Ground, March/April 1999.
Nothing human beings do to the sea has more physical impact than bottom trawling and dredging the world’s estuaries, bay’s and continental shelves, a new study concludes. The fishing industry drags nearly 6 million square miles of ocean floor annually to harvest fish, shrimp and scallops, about 150 times the forest that is clearcut on land. Advances in technology – rockhopper trawls, global positioning systems and fish finders – have allowed the fishing industry to trawl in one-mile deep waters and expand their range to subpolar and tropical waters. The study, "Disturbance of the Seabed by Mobile Fishing Gear: a Comparison with Forest Clearcutting www.mcbi.org ), appeared in the December issue of Conservation Biology. ª
A study of 243 Fortune 500 companies found that businesses with superior environmental performance had higher returns on investment compared with their peers. For a summary of the study, "A Resource-based Perspective on Corporate Environmental Performance and Profitability," by Michael Russo of the University of Oregon, and Paul Fout of Golden Gate University, call the Social Investment forum (202/872-5319) or visit LCB1.uoregon.edu/mrusso/resprof.htm ª
The ecological footprint concept co-developed by Mathis Wackernagel (www.edg.net.mx/~mathiswa ) measures the impact of humans on nature. Canadians each use 19 acres of land and water to sustain themselves. Americans use 30% more – about 25 acres. The thrifty Swiss and Germans use 12 acres. Wackernagel figures that, worldwide, 5 acres are available per person, if a scant 12% of Earth is set aside for all other life. So efficiencies are needed. Boosting the productivity of nature through permaculture, terracing, irrigation and reforestation is a start. Humanity must use energy more efficiently, consume less and quit reproducing so often, he suggests. ª
Don Gasper Reports on a Tract of Land Preserved
West Virginia Highlands Conservancy members should be aware and applaud the recent work of the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the West Virginia Chapter of The Nature Conservancy in purchasing a forested draw in Pendleton County to preserve cave habitat and bat colonies. There are four caves in this 176 acres now protected.
One cave harbors the second largest summer maternal colony of the endangered Virginia Big-eared Bat in the world -- nearly 1,000 in summer. There are other bat colonies (Little Brown and the rare Small-footed bat), and the declining Allegheny Woodrat. There are many common species, mice, squirrels, snakes and salamanders, to insects and spiders, millipedes and snails that inhabit cooler, damp shaded rock areas.
Trees growing there are hemlocks, maples and oaks. Wildflowers and grass rare to our state are common.
I, for one, appreciate this good work, and the accumulative continuing efforts of these organizations.
This DNR effort is largely the product of their "Non-Game Program." It is now somewhat supported by citizen’s purchase of a specialty license plate. There are right now moves in Washington to get a sustained, more adequate funding for this group. A contact with your legislators to support such funding would be something we could do for all wildlife.
By Mike Withers
The 1999 regular legislative session has ended, but questions still linger as to the treatment of Managed Timberland tax appraisals. S.B.151 (1998 leg.) mandated the use of a new appraisal method for such property. As a result 54 counties will loose an estimated $3,491,236 in property taxes in FY 1999. As a result of protests by county officials, supporters of public schools and fair tax proponents the legislature was forced to deal with the issue once again. The legislature ultimately amended and passed a bundle of rules H.B 2570 placing minimum appraised values on the three grades of Managed Timberland. With this amendment the estimated tax loss to counties is expected to be reduced to $830,000 in FY 2000.
The fiscal impacts of the changes made in Managed Timberland (MT) appraisals are not uniform, a few counties will absorb the lions share of the tax loss. A few southern counties will actually increase tax collections from MT. In the closing moments of the session HCR 72 passed. This mandates the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to conduct an interim study of the timberland tax issue.
This fiasco is a another example of the legislature having great difficulty in saying "NO" to wealthy special interests who come asking for tax breaks. West Virginia’s history provides almost constant reminders that someone’s tax breaks become someone else’s tax burden. With the legislature having a difficult time wrestling with this relatively small problem ($3.5 mil.), this author is frightened by the prospect of the same group rewriting most of our current tax code ($BILLIONS ). Look closely at the proposals being made by the Governors Commission on "Fair" Taxation before biting hook, line and sinker.
Well, I guess your editor was a little hasty in his prognostications. He said that Sayre Rodman would be all mended up and leading a hike at the Review. The latest word from the "Social Climber"is that he’s walking some without pain. So then we’ll expect him to be leading a hike at the Fall Review – an overnight backpack maybe?
We missed you at the Spring Review, Sayre! ª
Despite conventional wisdom, highways in rural areas generally do not generate economic growth, although they do cause a redistribution of businesses. Those businesses that cater to highway users are often pulled away from small towns, leading to a disjunct distribution of regional businesses. Jobs created in rural areas by highways are primarily low-skill, low-wage jobs, such as gas station attendants and fast food restaurant employees." Jason Tockman in Martha’s Journal, Winter 1999. ª
"There is a world-wide wave of apprehension about the health of the world. Back-up systems are gone or function at a fraction of former robustness. Millions understand that our planet is under a sustained assault that threatens to destroy its intricate, interdependent ecosystem.
And as this recognition widens, and as reforms are attempted and are not nearly successful enough, it becomes increasingly doubtful that mankind can forestall this on-rushing ruin. We might conclude that in his headlong greedy rush from his caves to the moon – he has locked himself within institutions that impel him toward what he now perceives to be his destruction."
– Harry M. Caudill, from his epilogue in Appalachian Wilderness ª
"According to the Labor Department, poultry work is one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States, with more than 43,000 serious job-related injuries every year. Government regulators has allowed poultry companies to speed up their processing lines from 50 to 90 birds per minute ... Stricter regulation of the industry is opposed by the corporate farm lobby, which wields enormous political power...
– Ken Silverstein in "Meat Factories" in the Jan-Feb. 99 issue of Sierra ª