Habitat Destruction in Mexico

Kondla, Norbert FOR:EX Norbert.Kondla at gems3.gov.bc.ca
Wed May 17 15:39:53 EDT 2000


Yes indeed. Pyromaniacs (or even hungry people) running rampant with matches
is not all that 'natural' but certainly the reality of natural disturbance
ecology and especially the historical role of wildfire in many North
American ecosystems is now widely recognized in the field of resource
management.  Easiest way to destroy the native butterflies, and other
organisms, on a south facing mountain slope in this part of the world is to
protect it by putting it in a park or some such thing.  Sit back and watch
how natural succession gradually creates a depauperate and different
ecosystem and see how the original inhabitants disappear despite the absence
of evil collectors and the presence of so much well-intentioned protection.
Ecosystems are naturally dynamic and varied through space and time; while we
humanoids are hell-bent on homogenizing and stabilizing; no small wonder
that things go extinct.

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Cherubini [mailto:cherubini at mindspring.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2000 4:54 AM
To: leps-l at lists.yale.edu
Subject: Re: Habitat Destruction in Mexico


Chris J. Durden wrote:

> Fantastic image of Sinaloa and parts of adjacent states! A sorry sight.

Does anyone here remember learning in their college Plant Ecology classes
that 
prior to the arrival of european man, most of western North America burned 
roughly every 7-10 years?

Paul Cherubini, Placerville, Calif.


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