In response to the letter “Unbiased views needed to assess forest management,” (Gazette, Feb. 4), there are two inaccuracies in the piece. First, that “forests have evolved over millenia with no humans around to tidy them up.” We now know that in 1492 there were from 60 million humans whose people had been here 20,000 years. And we now know that they managed the forests with fire for crops, to hunt, and to promote ecological diversity. The glades, mature specimens, and rich diversity and fire stability that the colonials describe was not virgin forest.

Second, the writer neglects the devastating damage we have already done with invasive plants and insects and jumping worms and fungi from other continents — not to mention extreme climate events. And third, with extinctions and fractured habitats for top predators, the food web is out of balance. Deer overgraze desirable native saplings. Insects and birds are in need of boosted habitats that can be provided by selected openings in impoverished, monoculture woodlands. We cannot just walk away at this point. Yes, identify and protect remnant, long unharvested woodlands, but expect to be present to help when all ash, hemlock, fir and beech join the great elm and chestnut standing dead from invasives even in those protected areas.

Janet Clark

Leeds

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