What is Alex Harris' role at RE Sources?
Alex Harris is the Land and Water Policy Manager at RE Sources, focusing on land policy and water policy, particularly how they interact. He tracks forestry, agriculture, and development to advocate for restorative land uses.
How does Alex Harris view his relationship with plants?
Alex sees plants as teachers and kin, emphasizing the need to recultivate the understanding of kinship with the natural world. He believes plants can help humans reconnect with nature and learn from their resilience.
What is ecological forest management, and why is it important?
Ecological forest management involves appreciating forests as complex ecosystems, recognizing their benefits, and mimicking natural disturbances like fire and wind to manage forests more sustainably. It aims to balance logging with ecosystem health.
What are the benefits of protecting old growth and mature forests?
Old growth and mature forests are carbon powerhouses, supporting biodiversity, watershed health, and salmon populations. They provide structural complexity and dead wood crucial for many species, and they store significant amounts of carbon.
How can the broader community support the preservation of old growth and mature forests?
Community members can support by attending local meetings, sending emails to representatives, participating in rallies, and learning about forest issues. Grassroots organizing and public engagement are crucial for policy shifts.
What is the Whatcom Forest Watch, and what is its mission?
The Whatcom Forest Watch is a grassroots group of advocates working to protect old growth and mature forests in Whatcom County. They focus on policy changes, public engagement, and community education to shift forest management practices.
What role does spirituality play in Alex Harris' work?
Spirituality and physical responsibility are intertwined for Alex. He believes that the natural world reflects a balance between physical and spiritual elements, and reconnecting with nature can heal human relationships with the environment.
What recent victory has the Whatcom Forest Watch achieved?
In December 2023, the Whatcom Forest Watch helped protect over 2,000 acres of mature forests in Washington State, including nearly 600 acres in the Whatcom watershed, funded by the Climate Commitment Act.
What is the Climate Commitment Act, and how does it relate to forest protection?
The Climate Commitment Act is a cap-and-invest program in Washington State that taxes large polluters and invests the revenue in climate solutions. A portion of the funds was used to protect mature forests from logging.
What is the Stuart Mountain Community Forest project, and why is it significant?
The Stuart Mountain Community Forest is a collaborative project involving the Nooksack Tribe, Whatcom County, and land trusts to acquire and manage private timberlands for community and ecological benefits, focusing on salmon recovery and forest resilience.
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