Being born in 1999, I have had a profound relationship with nature. I grew up with the belief that nature is infinite and indestructible, but as time passed I watched wildlands shrink and biodiversity diminish while mother nature retaliated with worsening natural disasters. I am still in awe of our natural world, and the vast wilderness we are lucky to still have here in Oregon, but I am also poignantly aware of its fragility. I have seen treasured wilderness and crucial environmental systems facing threats from every direction. Acknowledging this is not pleasant, but we must understand the reality if we are to face the challenges with solid reasons for hope. We must recognize the urgency of this crisis; if we fail to act and do not change course, we will destroy most of the life we know to exist within my lifetime. But if we are to protect our land and promote future flourishing, we must ensure our elected leaders share the same values and understanding of what we are protecting.
When evaluating our two governing parties and their approach to environmental issues, the contrast could not be more clear. The GOP, funded by big oil companies, follows the strategy of distraction and misdirection pioneered by the cigarette industry in the 1970s. They deny and deflect away from the overwhelming scientific consensus; a strategy which has been effective until now, when the effects of our destruction are unavoidable and experienced by all across the nation. Yet they still run on platforms of deny, deregulate, and clearcut, dig and drill. While the Democratic party covers a wide coalition, environmental issues are one of their primary concerns. They acknowledge the reality of the crisis and the need for change, but have struggled to pass truly meaningful legislation. The lack of major environmental legislation is largely due to obstruction by Republicans, which is why it is so crucial to elect Democrats who understand the severity of the crisis and the urgency of this moment; that every moment we waste is condemning humanity to a darker and darker future.
Understanding of land and the life it sustains only comes from spending time in that place, which is why I have dedicated months to hiking and maintaining trails around the country. Spending time in nature has taught me more than I can describe about myself, my community, and the land that supports us. The natural world is always surprising and beautiful, and even more so as one begins to understand its unbelievable complexity and influence on every aspect of our lives. This is why access to outdoor recreation is crucial, and why the lack of funding for sustainable land management (including trail maintenance) is so concerning.
Take for example the North Umpqua Trail; a beloved 80 mile trek along the stunning North Umpqua river. Before moving here I was looking forward to hiking this trail, and was disappointed to discover that it was still closed due to damage from the Archie Creek fire, now nearly four years ago. Reopening this trail is a tall task, but the end result of this inaction is that the community has one less crucial point of connection to the wilderness that is our backyard. More than just trail maintenance, funding for land management is needed to promote general forest health, from wildfire management to invasive resistance. These programs would not only help the natural world, they would also provide steady jobs for our community and a deeper sense of connection to our forests, while preserving our wilderness for the next generation.
So on this Earth Day soak in the spring, savor the beauty of our forests, and heed their cry for help. We have a responsibility to ourselves and future generations to act now, and we can have the most impact by focusing on local issues. Crucially, we must communicate to our government on every level that they must stand up to the extraction industry, that we will not support the destruction of our land and our future. We must educate ourselves and our fellow community members about environmental issues when voting and take action in whatever form you can, be that taking a hike with friends, learning about and advocating for environmental sustainability, or supporting or volunteering for conservation organizations. We must consider every decision we make. Every action we take is a crucial investment in securing a thriving future for ourselves and generations to come. This includes electing those who may not be perfect but at least understand that human caused climate change is real and we have an obligation to do something about it now.
This article was published in the News-Review on May 12 2024.
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