Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 17:11:47 -0500
From: John Alderman
Subject: Maytag Repairmen of Forestry
Less than two decades ago when I was a wildlife biologist, I reported forestry Best Management Practices violations to the Mecklenburg County forester..
When we met to discuss ways to improve the situation, it was clear that he was not a happy man. He explained that only 15% of the county was in woodland, and it was disappearing rapidly. He was not pleased that he was having to ask landowners to improve conditions given pressures to sell out to developers. I understood his concerns.
Now fast-forward to the early 2000s. Mecklenburg County approached my company about completing an inventory of all aquatic species in a 13 county area in North and South Carolina centered on Mecklenburg County. They explained that this was the projected build-out for the Charlotte Metro Area, and they wanted to know more about the resources potentially affected by the oncoming growth. In part, I was reminded of the time spent with the county forester a few years earlier, and now I could envision 13 such foresters within this expanding area.
So, when Al Cook reminds us of woodland’s importance, think deeply about what we have and how rapidly we are losing our beautiful county. Yes, landowner rights, even those belonging to Chatham Park, are important; however, a balance is also essential. That balance is sorely lacking in the presently proposed Chatham Park.
John Alderman