Take a look at the changing face of our state forests...

The lack of consideration given to our nation's dwindling natural resources astounds me. By natural resources I do not mean oil reserves or coal mines, but the very few acres of untouched, undomesticated land.

Yesterday's front page feature story in the Philadelphia Inquirer was about the Marcellus Shale (a natural gas field formation hanging out more than a mile underground most of PA, as well as parts of VA and NY). Once thought to be a relatively worthless venture, drilling the Shale for natural gas is now proving to be quite profitable and hundreds of contracts are cropping up to establish new rigs. What struck me was the tone of the article, focusing more on how the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is going to deal with all the incoming bids rather than what impact the influx of drilling will do to state forests occupying the land over the Shale.

Only one conservationist was cited among all the sources, urging the DCNR to hold back on granting more contracts until further research is done to establish the long-term effects of hundreds of new rigs, each of which takes up at least three to four acres. According to the article, the stance taken by the DCNR is that they have to balance the "environmental integrity of the forest" with "the Commonwealth's financial interests". Side note: PA stands to gain about 12% in royalties. Most of the studies I could find online about the Marcellus Shale were conducted in the name of potential economic benefit of the drilling, not environmental impact.

I know it is not new news, but the lack of concern for forestland still shocks me. I give Kristin, pursuing her Master's in Geography, credit for studying the consequences of this apathy every day. I only hope the day when businessmen and industrialists listen to voice of reason there will still be enough trees left to shade my picnic blanket.