Natural Disaster in Colorado's Forests Needs Action

I receive Mark Udall's newsletters and this one came today and thought it would be of interest to a broad audience given the topic

http://markudall.senate.gov/?p=blog&id=980

I signed the letter and THANKS for sharing!! this Bark Bettle problem has been there and growing, but totally ignored for toooo long!!

Will the Pine Beetle Cross the Continent?
The tiny insect can turn entire pine forests into bleak landscapes.

http://news.discovery.com/animals/pine- ... gn=rssnws1

THE GIST

Mountain pine beetles, which have devastated lodgepole pine forests in western North America, have been found in a new type of tree, the jack pine.
Jack pines cross the entire continent, which could ultimately wipe out pines on the U.S. East Coast.
Cold temperatures currently keep the spread at bay, but they may not last as the climate warms.

Thanks :thumbsup:

The south already has the Southern Pine Beetle. Is there some reason that if/when the Mountain Pine Beetle gets there it is going to do something that the Southern Pine Beetle is not already doing?

As your title of this thread says it is a "natural disaster". If you mess with it the problem will become greatly increased. The beetles are a natural part of the environment and their numbers are cyclical.
All that this politician wants to do is cut trees and give them to his lumber buddies.

Don't fall for this scheme.

major bean thank you for your comment. since we don't allow for fires to run any more then it becomes a natural part of the environment for the beetles to clean out the forests. so i have misgivings about messing with the cleansing. on the otherhand i do get concerned about the downed timber being a fire hazard especially near mountain subdivisions. what do you propose as a solution? thanks.

I wouldn't call this a natural disaster, it is just part of a natural process.