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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 21, 1992                   TAG: 9202210482
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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KNOWLEDGE IN CITIES, WISDOM IN WOODS

I WOULD like to reply to your editorial of Jan. 8, obviously written by a preservationist, and to letters on the topic.

It is shameful how the general American public is being completely misled by the extensive verbiage of the "no timbering" crowd. Knowledge is in the cities, but true wisdom is in the woods. It is apparent the preservationists would prefer our woodlands be consumed by wildfire, such as Yellowstone's, than an excellent regeneration clear-cut.

Yes, as a longtime tree farmer, who had a real-estate license, we have done many clear-cuts on our own land, benefiting wildlife, humans and biodiversity, as well as real-estate values - vistas as in Shenandoah National Park.

I issue a challenge to any disbelievers to walk and read the forest with me, examining various cutting techniques, including timber-stand improvement (weeding the woods) and clear-cuts. Trees are America's renewable resource and require continuous cutting for enhanced quality.

Otherwise, the public will pay highly increased prices for timber products. See The Wall Street Journal quotes on lumber futures, ranging from $192 to $249 for March delivery. We working environmentalists would appreciate the opportunity to show verbal environmentalists and the general public our proud achievements in the woods.

True, the Forest Service has given in to politics, where fun and frolics are the vogue and resource management, silviculture, is slighted. No wonder the Germans and Japanese laugh at us - we are net importers of wood. WILLIAM S. BRAUNWORTH FORT DEFIANCE

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