Subject: Re: baidarka Atlantic white cedar for gunwales?
From: James Mitchell (mariner@seanet.com)
Date: Sat Dec 02 2000 - 10:12:40 EST
You know, I was walking around Kyoto last November and found a small lumber
store crammed in between several old townhouses. Inside they were sawing
and stocking some of the most beautiful wood I had ever seen. These were
beams trimmed to dimension for their traditional post-and-beam construction
techniques, about 6"x8" by about 12'. My Nihongo is so poor I could not ask
any questions, but I have to say that I did not recognize the wood. It may
have been some kind of close grained pine, but more like a very fine cyprus
similar to yellow cedar. But I grew up with Douglas fir, and this weren't no
Douglas fir. And I doubt that it was old growth anything.
OK, totally anectdotal. One little shop in one city. I know we have sold a
lot of lumber there, I know that alot of that lumber was sold "raw" whereby
we missed the economic benefit of having milled it in our country. In fact,
I would favor legislation restricting the export of any raw logs, to force
at least the initial sawing to use American or Canadian labor. This export
of the finishing process is an unnecessary loss of our labor base. But
perhaps because of my many connections to Japan, I am sensitive to the
implication that "They" are taking all "Our" old growth logs.
Of the logs they are taking, I doubt that they are chipping them for paper.
On my next trip this spring, I look forward to seeing more of the beautiful
structures they build in their style, including wooden temples that have
stood for centuries without the help of metal. I will also hike again in
their ancient forests, under the beeches and pines standing tall in a
knee-high carpet of green and yellow bamboo grasses. I will again appreciate
the great job they are doing to restrict sprawl and paving of their forests
and hillsides, their beautiful and extensive parks, an appreciation of
nature and beauty from which we in the American west have much to learn.
My friends and I are already planning our paddle trips on the south coast,
among the hundreds of islands. I also hope to see the dryer and more
traditional country along the northern and western coast, the Sea of Japan,
Niigata, and north to Hokkaido.
My point is this: let's be careful assigning blame for the obvious
mismanagement of our forests. The problems we in North America have created
with our forest management come from our own decisions, decisions that are
now demonstrated to be made by the narrowest of majorities.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Native Ways" <nativeways@hotmail.com>
To: <baidarka@lists.intelenet.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2000 6:58 PM
Subject: Re: baidarka Atlantic white cedar for gunwales?
> For those of you who think there is plenty of yellow cedar to build as
many
> boats as we want...
> You can make enough toothpicks to deforest the world...
>
> yellow cedar he gets is not the best, and that it is better to go up to
> Canada where the timber laws aren't as strict and cut the old growth with
> the nice tight growth rings. And I thought he was salvaging his wood! Now
> what? I've already built two kayaks and a 26' Umiak out of the stuff!
> Truth is more and more people are building boats and not many are willing
to
> search for the most environmentally friendly forester.
>
> Please don't tell anyone how to ship the remaining old growth "anywhere".
> Japan already has most of our trees. Lets Keep it secret. THere are plenty
> of substitutes Locally grown just about everywhere. Thanks
> Greg
>
>
> >From: thomas-simpson <thomas-simpson@home.com>
> >Reply-To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
> >To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
> >Subject: Re: baidarka Atlantic white cedar for gunwales?
> >Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2000 10:24:20 -0800
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> >From owner-baidarka@ns1.intelenet.net Thu Nov 30 10:28:38 2000
> >Message-ID: <3A269B54.318629BD@home.com>
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> >
> >Yes trees grow back , not in our lifetime though for a 14" diam yellow
> >cedar.
> >
> >If one relies on 'professional foresters' for the health of the forest
> >ecosystem
> >you have decisions being made for economic reasons that should be made
for
> >ecological ones.
> >
> >Small scale local woodlot operators and community owned forests are the
> >only
> >ways to go.
> >
> >
> >
> >"Peter A. Chopelas" wrote:
> >
> > > Greg and the rest of you concerned with this kind of thing,
> > >
> > > Trees grow back! The size you need are easily cut from "crop" second,
> > > third and even fourth growth trees. The amount of wood used in a
fleet
> >of
> > > baidarkas is negligible anyway. The best way to make sure these
species
> > > keep getting replanted is by keeping a healthy commercial market for
it.
> > > If no one buys it, the foresters will not plant it.
> > >
> > > Do not get me wrong, I love the ancient forests and wish them to stay
> > > preserved, but what is mostly commercially cut is second (or more)
> >growth
> > > "crop" trees. I mostly build with salvaged lumber, the most
economical
> >of
> > > all and it does not cut down any trees, but the concern for using wood
> >to
> > > build kayaks way out of proportion the real problem, which is
> >mismanagement
> > > of the forests. Certainly not because too many people are building
> >kayaks
> > > with wood!
> > >
> > > Peter
> > > -
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