Conservationist Case

Conservationist

Dear Editor,

Throughout the course of history the world has grown increasingly dependence on natural resources. Recent world news and events tell us that this dependence will continue to grow and that it is important that the United States take steps to become energy independent. It is my belief as a conservationist that we begin to develop the means required to carefully and sensibly manage our own natural resources in an effort to further this independence.

The Bridger Teton National forest has 3.4 million acres of land (Welcome To Bridger-Teton National Forest", 2013) that has remained undisturbed and untouched by modern society and industrialization. Therefore the natural resources, and wildlife there have gone untapped, and we do not know what lies in and beneath the ground. There must be natural resources available to help end our dependence on foreign oil. The skyrocketing cost of oil and gas could end if we could harvest the natural resources of the forest. If we are allowed to develop parts of the forest it could lower the cost of gas, improve quality of life in small towns, and cause spiked in housing increasing revenue for the United States.

We need to provide incentives for the local industries such as mining in the area or forestry to use environmentally friendly technologies not only to increase the effectiveness of harvesting the area, but also by minimizing the damaging effects of this harvesting to the surrounding landscape and ecosystems, therefore preserving all of the forest wildlife and scenic vistas. Prior to any type of development for oil, gas or other natural resources, there should be a risk assessment. This risk assessment will process, identify and assess the hazards of development enabling us to reduce and minimize any possible hazards to the environment. This will be done in the following four steps:

1. Identify the hazard – What problems are caused by harvesting the natural resources?

2. Dose response assessment – What problems are caused at different levels of exposure by harvesting natural resources?

3. Exposure assessment – How much exposure can the environment and land sustain and for how long by harvesting while causing the least amount of damage?

4. Risk characterization – What is the extra risk of environmental problems in the exposed area?

Conservation of renewable resources like trees means that we should never take or use more than what we are able to replace. Conservation of non-renewable resources like fossil fuels means that we are only using them when we need or have to. These efforts associated with the efforts of reducing our dependency on forgein oil will boost our own economy and protect our environment. Providing us the means to sustain