Operation Knock on Wood: One of the largest species-restoration efforts takes flight - Assignment Example

Article Kristen, Weir. Operation Knock on Wood: One of the largest species-restoration efforts takes flight. Nature Conservancy Magazine. Summary of the Article The US army has been trained by North Carolina’s Fort Bragg for six decades. However, in 1990, Fort Bragg’s operations were threatened to be shut down due to sharp decline in existence of rare species of birds known as the re-cockaded woodpecker. Because of the rising threat to the extinction of the birds, the USA fish and wildlife service raised an alarm requiring the Fort to take action to save the birds or face harsh restrictions on military services in the area.

The military leaders did not like the jeopardy opinion as they claimed that they had just returned from Gulf war. They argued that their operations were not harming the wood pecker but, those behind the decline of the birds was due to ecological neglect. In addition, forest fire in the area altered the longleaf pine home preferred by the red-cockaded woodpecker and that the dense thickets and scrub oaks exposed the birds to danger and stiff competition. The red-cockaded woodpecker has been considered endangered by the U.

S Endangered Species Act of 1973. After the passage of this act, the population of these birds has continued to plummet for decades. The birds have no habitat because their preferred longleaf pine trees had been cut off for timber and cleared for farm fields. However, frequent wildfires were significant to increase in number of red-cockaded woodpecker because these fires stimulate sprouting original groundcover that shelters the woodpeckers and it clears out thickets and scrub oak allowing the pines to thrive.

These birds adapt to fire by carving out a niche in existing pine trees thus protecting their roosts from fire. In order to rescue the birds from extinction, the army has collaborated with conservancy, wildlife service and other group who have embarked on managing the bases of longleaf pine trees. In addition, they have also adopted a method to carefully control burns to clear out hardwoods. Habitat restoration has led to increased sprouting of red-cockaded birds. These conservation efforts by the army and other groups had led to bringing back of the birds and longleaf pine habitat which is unique to US landscape.

Critique In my opinion, it is worth noting that, for these birds to thrive, the army has to be relocated in other part and the field preserved for the birds. In addition, the US wildlife conservancy has been sleeping on work because it has been doing nothing to stop cutting down of trees that provide habitat for red-cockaded woodpecker. Article Scott, McMillion. Continental divide: Can two countries come together to save a pristine valley? Nature Conservancy Magazine. Summary of the Article The North Fork of Flathead River runs abroad valley surrounded by ridges and peaks suitable for human adventure.

On the other hand, river Churns runs from Canada to Montana forming the western boundary of Glacier National park. The Canadian North Fork is not occupied by anybody and the place does not receive visitors even during the hunting season. Logging ended in that place in 1970s giving room for ground to reclaim at its own pace. The North Fork borders Canada and the USA. Despite the fact that the place has been isolated by its geography, bad weather and roads, the North Fork is struggling with development.

People have tried to pull fossils from the valley with little success. Companies have tried to pull natural gas and oil from the Valley in recent years leading to proposals to develop the valley. Mining in the region has caused dark ripples on both sides of the border. Despite this, it is rare to see a person in that place. The Canadian stretch of the North Fork produces a productive ecosystem such as grizzly bears and other wildlife which is a paragon of health. The valley is rich in wild life and minerals.

In addition, the north Fork is the wildest mountain valley on the Canadian-US border. Further, the North Fork is blessed with water likely the large pristine lake. The Valley has been neglected but it is better to encourage big enterprises to exploit the place. If these companies exploit the area, the mines would disrupt wildlife, end valley isolation and pollute the water. The issue of protecting the area began in 1970s when Senator Max Baucus of Montana said that it is unique place on earth thus protecting it makes sense.

Protecting the North Fork would mean that British Columbia official to forget about tax revenues and royalties worth of mineral extraction. This issue hanged in the balance between the two countries which called for US commitment to protect the Valley. The US appealed to oil companies to withdraw from the US side of the North Fork and they did so. These two Countries eventually struck a deal in 2010 to ban any activity on the North fork banning all mining activities in the area in order to protect it.

It is apparent that Valley’s isolation will soon be ensured and the landscape will continue to thrive for the ecosystem. The countries will continue to protect the Valley enabling it to be little known and hard to reach. Critique In my opinion, the two countries would have taken a portion of the North rich in minerals and exploit it for the benefit of their countries. However, it is a good idea to protect an area that is vulnerable to extinction. Work Cited Lao, Zu. Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

New York: Nature Conservancy Press, 2012. Print.