There was quite an uproar over the possibility of logging in Frontenac and Whitewater state parks. To the relief of many, including myself, the proposal was rejected.
However, that does not mean these forests are in the clear; similar proposals may turn up in the future. This worries me because I’m not sure what information the representatives are looking at in the decision-making process.
They cannot focus only on the short-term economic value of a forest; there are indirect values of having an intact forest that must be taken into account. Logging as a short-term, quick fix will lead to many possible detrimental long-term results to a forest.
I’m not condemning all logging. I just think a variety of factors must be taken into account so that a well-informed decision can be made that is both good for our economy, and healthy for our forests. In fact, the economic value of a forest may be greater when placed under sustainable management that includes sustainable, low-impact logging.
If logging is in store for Whitewater, Frontenac, or any other Minnesota state parks in the future, I only hope that it will be sustainable and that the health of the forests, rather than just the price of them, are taken into account.
ADVERTISEMENT
Alyssa Mueller
Rochester
