1Ernesto

Gila National Forest, N.M. April 2014

This as an opportunity as a photo hobbyist worried about climate change to advocate for clean air. Grazing would address the fuel load on the forest floor redu...
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This as an opportunity as a photo hobbyist worried about climate change to advocate for clean air. Grazing would address the fuel load on the forest floor reducing damage to the air and canopy by wildfires. By this photo I hope to use photography’s power to tell this multi-dimensional story of climate change, causing increased bug invasions, more invasive plant species and dryer fuel on ground, from a local level to an international audience.
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FinePix S9200 S9250 S9150

settings

Aperture f/8.4 ISO 100 Shutter 10/1400

upload_date

Apr, 2014

Views

1120

Likes

+94

Awards

Superb Composition

+10

Outstanding Creativity

Absolute Masterpiece

Peer Award

Top Choice

Superior Skill

Magnificent Capture

Jaw Dropping

All Star

Exceptional Contrast

Top Ranks

Top 30 rank

Top 30 rank week 1

Categories

Wonderful POV! What started the fire? What will happen now?

The fire was caused by lightning and way too much dry fuel. As to what will happen next - negative events of the June 2013 Silver Fire that consumed 138,698 acres began August 2013 when a major rain at Emory Pass caused middle Percha Creek to scour the creek to bedrock in many places, and deposit tons of sandy silt in the Kingston orchard. It overflowed four bridges and covered many road crossing with mud and burned debris downstream.

So interesting to see how some trees burned more than others. Will grazing solve all the problem?

Some trees burned more completely because had been seriously compromised by a bark beetle infestation and as a result where in some stage of dying. You asked if grazing will solve the problem. I think goats would help as they eat trees, bush, weeds and other unwanted plants quickly. We already have cattle in the forest but they eat low and down while goats eat high and also compact the soil less if at all.

Sad to see the forests like this. On the other hand , Mother earth will heal herself.

Thanks your comment "Mother earth will heal herself" has motivated me to set a goal of taking a photo from the same spot at the same time every year just to document the healing.

Wow! fantastic shot and POV. thank you for the shot and for the interesting information!

Thanks for the Wow! The information above is good but I should and mention no one solution such as grazing will reduce all the damage from wildfires. Saw crews can thin the fuel load, but there is just too much overgrown land. Controlled burns are a common method in the western U.S. although very risky. It will make a difference if people stop moving into fire prone areas and we can let natural fires do what they do best. The best thing we can do is apply all these measures and more in the places they are most appropriate.

Good entry....voted

Thank you very much for the vote as it is sure my hope that having this photo in the GreenVoice contest will bring about more awareness of the damage and waste of wildfires.

Hi again Ernesto.....once more you have come up with a unique entry for this contest. Its such a good one. Voted

Your vote is most appreciated and I do appreciate your comment that this is a unique entry. We often in the United States will overlook the most obvious grand scale disaster to point out some rather little cause of pollution and waste.

PRO+

A picture can tell a story or fact, point well understood

Thanks! I'm two months away from taking the next photo, to show how it has changed in another year.