Thursday, October 14, 2010

Speaking of Axes. And Chainsaws. And Destruction...

Josh just emailed me these YouTube videos of tree harvesters.

He says, "I came across this video today and it made me a little sick... I thought it might be interesting to show to your environmental class and see what kind of reactions people have to it. ... Hyper efficient means of deforesting a planet. I sat watching this and a couple of similar others thinking to myself 'this is progress?'"

Thought I'd share and see what you all think.

2 comments:

  1. Hi Erin -

    The first video looks to me like a tree farm - see how they are all planted in rows? They were put there on purpose to harvest. You might feel better knowing that this might be a sustainable tree farm. Spares the virgin forest and preserves biodiversity in the surrounding regions.

    The second video looks like a pretty small operation - it could even be someone clearing a home-site in the mountains. And it doesn't look tropical so it might not be a really horrific logging, deforestation offender. Don't be sick! Its a pretty small machine the operator is using, too.

    If I recall correctly, the operations that are most destructive are happening in the tropcs, rainforests, etc. Brazil, madagascar. Bascially where the most, and most fragile, biodiversity is found on this earth. The equipment is massive and the scale is shocking:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzK2XITThZM&feature=related


    Here is a video with an interesting perspective on logging, some of it clearly rainforest logging, in the 60's and 70's. Looks like a proud family tradition, probably independent contractors (hard to find images of corporate loggers - they control the media access very strictly):
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNiBwYoucg0

    Good images, message but poor spelling:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKIgleUBDdE&feature=related

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  2. Heather - Thanks for the comment and the info. I appreciate the different perspective. :) I'll share your response with Josh.

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