U.S. Urban Forests Losing Ground

February 27th, 2012

U.S. Urban Forests Losing Ground

Deforestation in Northern California
Link:http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/deforestation_housing3.jpg


Summary
Declining at a rate of about 4 million per year according to a study found by the U.S. Forest Service, forests are in rapid descension. 20 cities were analyzed in the study 17 of them declining in impervious cover. The greatest percentages of tree loss was founded in New Orleans, Houston and Albuquerque. Researchers believe New Orleans had a huge decline due to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The U.S. Forest Service announced that with restoration of urban forests, benefits can reach up to three times as much money put in to the restoration. One main benefit is reduced heating and cooling costs. Still, with tree planting efforts starting to increase in cities, there is still tree loss, just not as much in some areas. Planting trees is just a start in a long process of urban forest restoration.

Opinion
From this article, I have learned a lot of things about the current deforestation issue occurring in a lot of cities in the U.S. I do think that we are far away from making a huge difference in saving trees. Although we are cutting down loss, we should try to get to the point where we don't lose any trees, at least in areas where we can. However, to do so, U.S. citizens need to join together and think of the rewards that can happen when we restore our urban forests. Heating and cooling costs are sometimes too much for some citizens, but if we make a drastic change in restoration, we can make a big difference in that aspect and many others.

Questions
1. Do you think that restoring forests drastically can be done?
2. How should the country face deforestation and what moves should we make?
3. Do you think deforestation is only an issue in certain  areas and should only be handled there?

German government to cut subsidies supporting solar power by up to 30 percent

The picture is of a solar field in Germany

Summery:

Solar panels are a great way to get energy instead of other ways. This article takes place in Germany. The reason that the German government wants to cut subsidies is due to over order and they can just no afford it. It would drop from 30% to 20%. The reason for this sudden rise of solar panels is from the earthquake in Japan and people got worried about a possible nuclear meltdown.  The article also said that in Europe a lot of the energy is made for nuclear power plants. Energy from renew able sources covered 20 percent of all German energy. This is better that the U.S. by about 9 percent.

Opinion

I think that German government should lower the amount it subsidies. I feel this way because more people are able to get solar panels because less is spent by the government on each panel there from more can be subsidies. I also feel that thee German people are a little paranoid because the possibility of an earthquake doing that kind of damage is extremely unlikely. I picked this article because if less fossil fuel are being burned than less damage to the environment can be done. I think that more people here in this country should get solar panels.

Questions:

1. Would you get solar panels?

2. Do you think that the German government is subsidies to much or to little? Why or why not?

3. If solar panels were never invented would we be better or worse off?  Why or why not?

4. what can we do to make sure we live a greener life? 

If picture doesn't work try this link:

http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/solar/images/germany.jpg

Grizzly Bears: A Keystone Species

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/02/21/how-many-grizzlies-are-enough/

Picture: This picture shows a female grizzly with her cub. In Alaska the population of grizzly bears are growing.

Summary: 
     Grizzly bears are an intelligent and surprisingly sweet species. They populate some of Alaska looking for salmon and bearing young. The population of grizzly bears in North America are growing. Though the population is growing, some smaller populated areas are not making it easy for bears to reproduce. In smaller populations, inbreeding is common and causes many diseases. The reason grizzly bears are considered a keystone species is because they hint, scavenge, forage, and put nutrients back into the soil. Though the population of these bears are rising many are wondering if the population of bears are enough. Others believe that the population still needs to bounce back.

Opinion:
  I believe that the population of grizzly bears should be allowed to rise. In class, we saw that the amount of species in a food chain will eventually equal out. People have nothing to be afraid of. If they take care of their properties and livestock then they will not have a problem with the bears. While reading this article I also found that bears are highly intelligent which surprised me. I always thought they were not that smart. Apparently they are smarter than most dogs and can process information almost as well as a human infant. These bears are an important and vital piece in the ecosystem.

Question Time!:

• How else can people prevent bear mauling? 
• Why do you think people hunt these bears?
• What can we do to help the bears thrive?
• Wow else could the bear population be threatened besides human interference?