The Natural Areas Stewardship Committee is developing a management recommendation for 128 acres of college land about 10 miles south of campus. The curriculum for Environmental Studies and Environmental Science majors describes theoretical concepts about sustaining human prosperity and the natural world, which can guide this real-life decision.

Lectures lament the loss of biodiversity, as 40,000 species become extinct globally each year and we say that biodiversity increases ecosystem stability. This property includes a gorge, one of the county’s Unique Natural Areas. A trout spawning stream creates steep cliffs in glacial debris and unusual fern species grow in this moist environment shaded by large, canopy trees. Ecologists suggest that logging would cause erosion and threaten the trout stream and other unique characteristics of the gorge. Lecture concepts suggest that the gorge should not be logged because this would jeopardize biodiversity.

The northern, smaller portion of this property is a young forest, a very common ecosystem in New York. Lectures praise a sustainable yield of natural resources that serve essential needs for human prosperity. Our young forest could provide a sustained yield of hardwood products. Selective logging can leave den trees for nesting, oak trees to provide food from acorns for many wildlife species, and produce quality hardwood while the forest provides esthetically pleasing products for essential human needs.

Alternative management for different portions of this land balance the preservation of natural ecosystems and the production of renewable resources.

The Natural Areas Stewardship Committee wants to hear other opinions and we solicit your input. E-mails or letters could be sent to any of the committee members including Jason Hamilton, chair of the committee, at jhamilton@ithaca.edu or Mark Darling at mdarling@ithaca.edu.