Agricultural Land is Important - That's Easy - But What About Other Types?

The Environment & Agriculture table discussion welcomed the second group and the first topic or burning issue to arise was the problem of unequal perceived value of different classes of land.

The core issues:

• It's easy to understand that agricultural land is important for all of us but it's harder to understand why other types of land are important - what can we do about this?
• We are living in an environment that is just a fraction of what it was: oceans were once teaming with life, now we cannot derive sustenance from them - how can we fix this?

Other types of land are important because they:

• Clean the water
• Clean the air
• Help mitigate climate change
• Reconnect us with the land...ie, using timber for our homes, growing food in our yards, fishing for our dinner, walking in the forest, ...what else?

Suggested Solutions

• Use the land that is already available rather than clearing more trees
• Large trees store much more water than young trees
• Pender Island is doing a study on carbon offset forests
• Don't take the forest down - use a different crop (Hemp, Nettles)
• Make nettle clothing
• We need to change our mentality, not take the forest down
• Practice AgroForestry: The Working Landscape (not just agriculture)
• Imagine a future where we wouldn't need parks - sacred places, yes, with general an understanding about limits

What else can we do to increase awareness that all types of land are important? What other thoughts or opinions to do you have on this topic? Login to comment below.