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there's "forced emphasis" because controlled burns which had been occurring for 1000s of years were outlawed by european settlers, leading to the current catast
by test098 3y ago
there's "forced emphasis" because controlled burns which had been occurring for 1000s of years were outlawed by european settlers, leading to the current catastrophic wildfires that we experience every year in california. historical context isn't some kind of "woke" gotcha - it's literally the history of controlled burns and why banning them has caused our current problems.
- njarboe 3y agoAs mentioned elsewhere in the thread, most of the forests in California were clearcut and the large, spread out, old growth forests that the Indians (native americans, indigenous people, etc.) used controlled burns on don't exist any more. In 1000 years we could possible get back to that but until then we will have to discover how to do these burns in the forest as it exists and decide if they are a good idea.
- jchanimal 3y agoOne of my favorite hikes in Oregon is a cermonial white oak grove that was crafted by generations of controlled burns. It's starting to fade, but walking the paths it's humbling to imagine what it was like at its full glory. I was also taught to think of the American genocide as a fait-accompli but of course the reality is more complex and the history has not been erased.