Being a Colorado resident, the heath of the many forests we have here is very important to me. Lately our forests have come under stack by the Mountain Pine Beetle. This beetle is responsible of killing millions of trees. Normally this should act as a normal part of the natural cycle of a forest, but it seems to be growing to an uncontrolled epidemic.

I have a personal theory that I have developed through some very basic searches, news watching, and minimal research. I am in no way an expert on trees, beetles, or really any part of nature. However I see the problem of the Pine Beetle as being intimately connected with our social and ecological policies of the past decades. So while I will leave it to the experts to find a final solution, I feel my observations accurately describe at least one root of this problem.

The basics:

1. Pine beetles kill trees
2. We do not want trees to die

Those two points certainly seem oversimplified. However, those very basic facts are very important when we consider them in the larger context of how America both views forests and their care.

3. We fear forest fires
4. We stop and prevent forest fires whenever possible

Once again, the next two points are very very basic. Our commonsense tells us that we must stop fires because of the damage they do, especially to isolated towns and the perimeters of cities.

5. Without forest fires, land must be managed to maintain heath
6. We do not manage our national forests

These last two points are critical. We assume that nature maintains itself; however, we prevent natural regulators such as fire. Therefore, we have disrupted the natural maintenance cycle of the forest. It would then make sense if we managed the forests to prevent dangerous buildup of dead trees, brush, etc. The problem is that we do not do this, or at least not in a well planned or well funded manner.

Synthesis:

Being that we prevent as many forest fires as possible, and stop those that do start, and that we lack a comprehensive forest management program (although such legislation technically exists) we have a picture perfect for natures other little tricks. Insects are capable of traveling quite far if they decide to, but most do not. Insects only travel as far as is convenient for food and breeding. Even when food is not readily available most insects die instead of moving in mass migrations, lets face it, bugs are not overly complex in behavior.

A healthy forest supports a large amount and great variety of life. However, life in this kind of forest tends to localize itself. Trees should be well spaced, making it much less likely of insects that live in or on trees to spread quickly. The current state of almost any forest in Colorado is very crowded. The trees are tightly packed and much thinner than normal in many places. Ergo, perfect for a beetle that bores into trees to feed, breed, and spread. This, of course, has one inevitable result.

Large swaths of forests have died, and the spread in continuing at a rapid clip. But is this a bad thing? Many dead trees make a very large fire a "when" rather than an "if" question. Pine Beetles are also not known for their resistance to extreme temperatures. Any fire that resulted would spread to a great deal of healthy forest, but in doing so would also kill any beetles that wad been in or near those trees. Nature has created a plague to manage itself. However, just because "nature finds a way" does not mean it is a good way, at least not for us. Many towns, roads, and other resources would be put at risk of great harm. At this point though, there may be no human solution.

The lesson here is that preventative measures in the form of extensive and well funded forest management programs need to be reconsidered. If we can maintain the health of a forest we do not need to fear these far reaching problems. Well maintained forests also make controlled burns much easier to manage, or possible to carry out. We cannot stop nature from performing basic maintenance, the only thing we can do is work within the framework nature has given us to control the possibility of damage to ourselves.