THE INFLUENCE OF TREES

THE INFLUENCE OF TREES

Monday, August 22, 2016

  Awoke thinking on today’s subject. An odd one for sure as in “Where did that come from for a DT?” Then came the difficulty in wording the title. Then came the work of trying to make word sense of it for readers.

  Trees are good, right? Americans love beautiful forests!

  The Nebraska Board of Educational Lands & Funds is the largest landowner in the state. (Surprised are you?) The almost 1.26 million acres of agricultural land is leased to farmers and ranchers. The income goes to supporting Nebraska public schools. The amount is no small acorn, 573, 000, 000 dollars in the last 15 years.

  Everyone loves cedar, right? Well, not everyone, including NBELF, ranchers, this and other taxpayers.

  Red cedar trees are invading NBELF properties at a steady rate, about 2% a year. Though the land trust began control programs in the 80s and presently invests $400, 000 per year, it’s a losing costly battle. Said cost is not singular. The loss of 2% per year of leased NBELF gazing land is affecting Nebraska’s $7.4 billion cattle industry, the ancillary small town businesses, public school budgets and taxpayer you and I.

  We Norte Americanos have developed a growing delight in noshing avocados. Many of which are conveniently imported from Mexico. This means increased income for the growers, slightly less immigration, but at a cost to something else we Americans love, butterflies.

  Avocados grow best in areas adjacent to the forests that our beloved butterflies habitat in during our North America winter – to meet the increasing demand for avocados these forests are falling to the bite of chainsaw and axe.

  Now to the personal odd thought this morning as all the above was tumbling about in my cranium: Pondering Jesus’ remarks on trees, the question “What kind of tree are you?” kept rising to the crown of this 80+ year old still growing tree.

EBB4