How strong is collective land ethic?

By Shannon Ramsay

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Here in the Midwest, we have a great legacy of environmental leadership.

One of the most famous conservationists in U.S. history is Aldo Leopold, born in Burlington in 1887. Leopold spent time growing up along the Mississippi River during a critical time in wildlife management. We had wiped out many species - such as the passenger pigeon - and were close to wiping out bison, white-tailed deer and the wild turkey. By that time, a large percentage of our native prairie had been converted to croplands and our original woodlands used for building or powering steam engines. Leopold inspired a new generation of leaders and wildlife managers through his writing on conservation, management and ethics.

J. Sterling Morton was a wealthy businessman from Nebraska City, Neb., who founded Arbor Day in 1872 because he knew communities and neighborhoods needed trees to make them livable.

Today is Arbor Day. All over Iowa and the nation, schools and communities are planting trees along streets and in parks and neighborhoods, because they are inspired by Morton's vision.

Each tree planted, each buffer maintained along a river or stream, every rain garden established, and natural area preserved, makes a difference. But is it enough?

As I drive through our communities and across rural Iowa, I can't help but wonder who remembers how many large oaks were removed along First Avenue in Cedar Rapids over the last five years? Who remembers those forested buffers along creeks and streams, now gone to make way for a few more feet of tillable land? Do you remember what once grew beneath that enormous parking lot or under a highway?

I've read the recent reports on soil erosion and have actually helped with studies that document the amount of pavement we have in our communities versus permeable, natural areas and trees. We are literally losing ground - that includes soil washed into our rivers and headed for the Gulf and soil buried under concrete. How do we stay ahead of all this?

Ultimately the responsibility gets back to us - the private citizen and landowner. Yes, it is going to take a lot of financial investment, but that leads to job creation and economic development, cleaner water and air and more livable communities. Iowans have a distaste for government regulation, but do we have a strong enough land ethic? Do we care enough about the Earth to care for our small part?

Leopold said, “Ethical behavior is doing the right thing when no one else is watching - even when doing the wrong thing is legal.”

Shannon Ramsay is founding president and CEO of Trees Forever in Marion. Comments: Comments: www.treesforever.org