Conservation is more than kids’ stuff

By Gary Siegwarth

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Although most of us think of Dr. Seuss books as simple reading material for children, the author actually tackled some serious and controversial themes. “The Lorax” (1971) dealt with conservation awareness and the environment.

I often recommend “The Lorax” to both kids and adults as one of the most basic and simple first lessons on conservation. It may take some further insight and discussion with younger readers from parents or teachers to convey the obvious conservation message in the book.

If you have never read “The Lorax” or don't remember the story, the 10-minute time investment is well worth it. The story is a simplified saga of an abundant natural resource (Truffula trees) being used to the point that the limited resource and all the associated species, environmental quality and scenic beauty of a once-diverse landscape are significantly compromised over time.

As you read the story, try to envision the landscape changes that have taken place (and are still occurring) here in Iowa. The hardest part will be trying to recall what our state's diverse landscape looked and felt like before you were born. Harder yet to figure out what that landscape was like before your grandparents were born.

That's because the pages of the real life story of what has been lost turn so slow that current generations don't have a good way to be reminded of our landscape history. We are left with only incomplete references of what was lost because few, if any, were taking the time to fully observe and catalog what was here.

A glimpse of that history can be found by reading “A Country So Full of Game” by James Dinsmore, or “Iowa - Portrait of the Land” by Larry Stone.

The ending of “Lorax” leaves us with hope that a few remaining seeds in the right hands can slowly bring back some of what was lost. We have similar hope in Iowa, with conservation organizations and a handful of farmers, landowners and residents doing voluntary things on their property to bring back that landscape diversity and the wild species that depend on it - species that have no voice, let alone a recognized line on our economic spreadsheet of $7 per bushel of corn.

These insightful organizations and individuals usually enjoy seeing the return from their efforts of redefining true land stewardship with a better definition of “giving something back to the land.” We also have an upcoming young generation with the energy and hope to nurture those seeds we plant.

Gary Siegwarth is a Natural Resource Biologist at Big Spring Trout Hatchery in Elkader. Comments: bspring@alpine

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