As I started preparing an article about trees, it became evident there are two major issues with trees and forests: over consumption and current wildfires. Both go hand-in-hand, as you will find out. So, take a seat in that wood chair, behind that wood desk, within that wood- built dwelling. Put down the wood pencil, take a deep breath of tree-produced air and listen up to what I write sitting in my wood chair, at my wood desk... well you get the idea.

Wood, it is everywhere! And today there is much conflict about how to care for this precious resource. With the recent outbreaks of wildfires, the increased use of wood products, and urban sprawl, we must think seriously about the direction we are headed. Our actions today will effect how future generations live, and we must think wisely so that they have forests as a resource not only for physical consumption, but also for our psychological consumption.

Have you ever stopped to think about what all a tree provides? There is not one second of our lives we are not using a tree's resource. Take a quick look around you. Not only is the air you breathe provided by a tree, but look at how much wood is in use just around the small space you occupy right now. This is why we must start rethinking our habits of use and reduce our current consumption.

The average American utilizes seven times more wood than the average human of other countries. This at first was shocking but after I thought about it for a while, how can I be shocked? Look at the lifestyle of Americans overall. Yes, some more extravagant than others, but over all Americans have a bad habit of wasting and overusing. Think how selfish it is to be wasteful of our natural resources. Not only do we have future generations to think of, but how about all the creatures we love to photograph? Trees not only provide the dwellings we reside in but are homes for a majority of wild creatures. How many photographs have you taken that had no influence from a tree?

The two largest wood using industries are construction and paper packaging. We as end users can dictate how much effect these industries have on our forests by reducing our use or choosing the correct products and producers of these industries.

If you do decide you need a new place to live or office, please consider purchasing a used building. However, if you must have that new building, here are some things to think of; when choosing wood building products there are some companies that are better for the environment. Look for wood labeled with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), SCS (Scientific Certification Systems), or SmartWood.

When selecting paper products, choose the brands that offer post-consumer products over recycled. Even recycled paper can still be virgin wood fibers. It seems the paper companies think if they sweep up the scraps off their mill room floors, those products should be considered recycled paper.

So, before going about your everyday living, be aware of what effect you have on our precious forests. Choose products responsibly and feel better about your contributions.

Here are some other things that can be done:

• Use washable fabric instead of paper towels.
• Never use paper cups or plates.
• Take your coffee mug to the local coffee shop and guess what else, you don't need to wash it everyday.
• Re-use your junk mail for note pads, or write to DMA, Mail Preference Service, P.O. box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008 and opt out of marketing mail.
• Always recycle, and if your community does not have a program be a leader and start one.
• When given the choice, choose post-consumer made paper rather than recycled, and hardly ever use paper products that are neither.
• If you buy a few things at the store, tell the clerk to save the earth and not use a sack.
• Use a cloth sack while shopping for numerous groceries.

There is so much more that can be done. Go to www.woodwise.org for more helpful tips.

Now on to Wildfires - Not only is our overuse affecting the destruction of trees, but also at this time we are experiencing an outbreak of wildfires like never before. There is great debate over how to resolve the problem. I have no solution but do know this much.

The problem started when humans intervened. Before the west was settled on by the white settlers, forests would see small undergrowth fires about every decade, that would replenish the forest floor and kill off many of seedlings. The forests of those days were glorious settings with spacious trees. Some say you could drive a car through a forest with ease. When the west was occupied, grazing animals took over doing what the fires typically would but leaving one very important species, the pine seedlings. Forest densities grew to unheard of numbers, creating what we know the forests to be today.

Now introduce fire along with the competition of trees for water. What was a small fire becomes an uncontrollable fiery furnace, now jumping to the tops of the Ponderosas and devouring millions of acres per year. Now introduce man back in. This is where our consumption of wood and fire goes hand-in-hand, and this is where greed takes over.

Foresters saw the "new" forest with numerous trees as thick as you could pack them in as a great monetary resource and devised a plan to have "fire free" forests. You see, fire was like a Wolf devouring a farmer's herd, and what do you do with that Wolf? You kill it, right? I mean God forbid you allow something natural to harm our way of living. So, here we were trying to kill this horrible natural "disaster". Well, disaster is what was created. Now we have what is happening today. The lack of fires for so long has created over populated forests with dry trees just waiting for lightning or the flick of a cigarette butt to start a fire. The government is spending far too much money to fight the fires today than we probably saw from this wonderful new resource of fire free forests.

So what do we do? Continue to manipulate the environment, or do we let nature take back our lands? That is the multi-billion dollar question. However, be careful how you answer, and you might want to see who signs your paycheck. That seems to be what drives most decisions today.

Slow down and take the time to see if you are making the right decisions for better forests. A little thought can save a lot.

The following books were used in research for this article:

• The Man Who Planted Trees, Jean Giono
• A Season of Fire, Douglas Ganterbein

Richard Ditch graciously contributed two outstanding images of California trees for this article.

Editor's Comment: Let us know what you think! Please email the Editor to let us know your thoughts.

Brent Stovall began his nature photography avocation within the past three years. His main purpose is to capture the natural beauty of the world around him and to bring awareness to the public regarding animal cruelty and destruction of their habitat. His life passions are studying the Lord's Word, being surrounded by animals and spending time in the outdoors backpacking, cycling and canoeing. He resides in Edmond, OK where he and his wife run a residential appraisal firm.