I am indebted to Carl Freiling, a south-county real estate agent and longtime conservationist who for some time has been discussing with the U.S. Forest Service its plan to allow more intensive uses in parts of the Mark Twain National Forest not far from where he lives.

The deadline for commenting on the pending plan to the forest service is tomorrow. Contact information was contained in a Tuesday story in this newspaper on Page 10A. Whether these Hankie-come-lately comments will have any effect is highly questionable, but one must press ahead despite such worries.

The federal government wants to allow more intensive timber management and public access in designated areas of the forest. These very intentions are not necessarily bad, but how they are implemented bears the closest watching.

Timber management can be a good thing for any forest, particularly our most cherished stands. Neglected woods will lose quality with junk species like maples taking over from better hardwood species such as oak and ash. Regular understory clearing allows more vibrant natural growth and guards against forest fire.

As part of its management plan, the forest service plans clear-cutting in a 33-acre area. "Clear-cutting" is a phrase sure to evoke horrified reaction from many ardent preservationists, but in fact if properly done, clear-cutting also can be a worthwhile forest management tool, and not just to provide timber harvest profits. Indeed, if the forest service does it right, it will contract with timber harvesters to remove trees according to a careful plan that will help the forest while providing revenue to offset costs.

A more troublesome concept might be "public access." If this means a few well integrated pathways and natural roads geared mainly toward non-motorized traffic, complaints will be few. If it means roads for high-speed all-terrain-vehicle roads and mechanized invaders, it will interfere with the "wilderness" that has characterized the forest throughout its history, and protests will be justified. Access for ATVs is likely to be the most controversial issue of all.

It seems apparent the new forest service plan will go into effect. Opponents say their complaints and protests have fallen on deaf ears. Since the government surely is aware of these concerns, and since we must assume its minions have protection of the forest’s pristine nature somewhere high in their list of management priorities, let us pray they bring in their bulldozers and chain saws only with the utmost care.

It is possible to intensify use without doing harm. Will they?

Oops

Monday in this column, when I listed Democratic state representatives from Boone County who voted against the voter ID bill, I failed to list Jeff Harris. He rounded out the pattern. Among our five local reps, the three Democrats voted against and the two Republicans voted for a constitutional amendment resolution that, without evident justification, would make our voting qualifications the most restrictive in the nation and disenfranchise many eligible citizens.

This is a bad initiative, and local Democrats deserve credit for opposing it. Sen. Chuck Graham also is among that number.

One thing is certain, and I have always known it - the JOYS of my life have nothing to do with age.

- May Sarton, poet and writer

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