AEF-Q&A

AEF Q&A

We will do are best to answer all your questions

Richard, The Great State of Colorado

Q: We had a very devistating year in regards to wildfire in my state. The news and talk on the street is that environmental groups have tied the hands of state foresters and the US Forest Service when in comes to perscride fire. Is AEF one one those groups, and if so why?

A: Richard, AEF is a nonpolitical organization and what that means is we are a no time active in regards to seting or change polite with repect to our lands. AEF mission in to enlight people and community through environmental education and to encourage hands-on participation.

There is good money in telling people what they can and can't do.There are so called envrionmental groups that know that there is a big payday out there if they are successful in delaying, stopping projetcs and progarms. Let's remember that our forest provide one of our greatest renewal resources, that be timber. All we have to do is give it TLC and it will

Darryl, Past Volunteer and Supporter, Nv

Q: A few years back my son and I road on your project bus up to a project in Tahoe. We planted trees and really had a good and meaningful day. I retired this last year and moved to Henderson, NV and read that you will be starting programs out my way. I am a bit slower and much grayer but hope that you could use a little help from this still ever active person. What's the best way to get involved.

A: Darryl, When it comes to our environment we could use all the help we can get. Our plan is to have fall/winter and early spring project in southern Nevada and then up to Tahoe for summer programs. Yes we can use your help and the best way to get involved is to go right to our wed site (see top of any page volunteer online) that's all it takes, see you out there and thanks.

Erine, US Citizen

Q: I can aperiheat to fact the AEF is trying to stay notal in regards to comments about the ageinces that manage our lands on both the state and fedurel leval. The fact is we have a overwheliming problem and people need to know this!

A: Erine, after 9-11-01 I think that it is widly known that most state and fedural agnices need to be completely reworked in regards to the way the opperate. If the Forest Serice or National Parks, BLM, Etc. were a pro football team they would never reach the playoffs. Understaned its not the people its the system. Change is in the wind.

Robert and Friends, Nevada

Q: I am glad to hear that you are starting programs in the Las Vegas area. What kind of time
frame are you on and will you be airing your television show in the area.

A: Robert, People are always very surprised when I say state and federal agencies make very little if any funds available with it comes to supporting environment education or conservation projects. AEF depends on fellow foundations but most of all on corporate America for ongoing support. Las Vegas was hit hard in regards to a down turn in business due to a slow econny conbined with the events of 911. Nevada corporations in the past have been our biggiest supporters but very little funds are available in this slow economy.

AEF is commented to the southern Nevada area and very hopeful that even with this slow economy we will still move forward. In regards to our television show. We are currenly working with education, access and community television and hope to be airing AEF environmental televison throughout southern Nevada very soon. In the meantime viewers can catch the show via streaming video on our web site, Look forward to working with you.

John and Family: Malibu, California

Q: What can my family and I do to help support our environment?

A: John, Only through education and participation can we help solve the ever growing
challenges.

A few important ways you can make a big differences:

Involve your children in environmental activities, we need them to know what they might be missing.

Spend at least one-day a year volunteering your time participating in a conservation project in your area.

Be aware through the popular media in regards to environmental issues. Remember you
have a voice.

Be conscious of the fact that federal, state, county, etc. agencies provide very little funding support for environmental community service programs, help by supporting an environmental group of your choice, we all thank you for your concern.

Sam: Sierra Foothills, Nevada

Q: What is the best time of year to plant trees?

A: Sam, Spring is the best time for the most part. This is based on the fact spring is the beginning of the growing season. When AEF plants seedlings in dry areas like the east side of the Sierra or parts of California where we do not have access for regular watering we like to plant in the fall.
By doing this we give the seedlings time to acclimate to the location and the benefit of fall/winter/spring rain and snow. It's best to check with a local grower in your area. Check with the Nevada Division of Forestry Nursery in Washoe Valley (775) 849-0213, good luck.

Mark: San Luis Obispo, California

Q: We have this Adventure Pass we have to purchase to go on public lands. I read how the first year they ran this program they took in $450.000 in sales of the pass and it cost them over 1.3 million of our tax dollars to run the program. Way do I have to pay taxes and then another fee to go on public lands?

A: Mark, Talk on the street and in government circles is that it's time to privatize the many agencies that manage our lands. Studies have shown that taxpayers would save 20-35% in tax dollars and would have a much better product if privatized, remember you have a voice, use it!

Annie: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Q: Love your web site and caught your show "Sunset Ranch" via streaming video on my computer.
I read all about your Junior Rangers program and was wondering if you plan to run this program in Santa Fe, New Mexico?

A: Annie, Thanks so much for the positive words. I am letting the cat out of the bag a little early when I say we are working on that. AEF receives calls and emails from people throughout north and even south America about our Conservation Through Participation programs. We are developing a turnkey like program that schools, youth groups can utilize. We hope to introduce AEF-National in spring 2003 and would love any input, see you in Santa Fe.

Robert: Tahoe Basin, Nevada

Q: Why is the forest in the Tahoe basin in such bad shape, and what can be done?

A: Robert, That question packs a lot of buckshot due to the fact there are many circumstances and contributing factors. Let me be sort and sweet in the hopes of inspiring you to pick up a
book about the area.

If we could go back in time prior to the Comstock we would see primarily a pine forest with Jeffery, Ponderosa and Sugar pine. These trees over thousands of years evolved to be some of the largest trees in the world.

We now know that fire played a very important role in the health of the ecosystem in the Tahoe Basin. Fire was so common (every 15-20 years) that it did more good them harm. Fires from lightning strikes could burn for months on end, slowly crawling along just a few feet off the ground. The benefits from fire are: thinning of sick, dieing or died vegetation as well as general forest thinning. The burning of vegetation releases important nutrients into the soil which are vital to a healthy forest.

      Though we have few photographs of the area prior to the Comstock we have many thereafter.
      Photographs of timber operations show that the basin was completely clear-cut changing the       ecosystem for evermore. The forest of today is much different, a mix of pine and firs. Pines like       the sunlight and grow far apart with firs liking shade a lot of water and tend to grow close       together.

      Due to population growth in the basin we cannot allow fire to play its important role. Due to this       fact the forest of today is much to dense and therefore trees are in competition for water, light       and important nutrients in the soil. The forest plant life is stressed and therefore is highly       susceptible to attack by insects, disease, drought and catastrophic wildfire.

The true answer is to thin the forest and then reintroduce fire in prescribed burning. This sounds easy but remember the Tahoe Basin sits in two states combined with tribal, federal lands and four or five different county's and cities. Dozens of state, federal, county, city agencies along with many environmental groups control these lands. Its sad to say but Israel and the Palestinians will find peace and live hand in hand before all these groups agree to get the ball rolling in the great Tahoe Basin, still hopeful.

Jennifer (aka) Sunshine, 1998 Junior Ranger

I just wanted to say Hi to Richard and thanks. Though at times we worked really hard I am glad that
I was a Junior Ranger. I helped nature by planting lots of trees and I loved swimming in Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake. As I get older I realize more and more how important what we did was and am glad I was a Junior Ranger. Jennifer we are glad you were a Junior Ranger too.

Mike and Family: Carson City, Nevada

Q: On a road trip to California we took a road through the mountains to California. We were charged $20 by the National Park Service to pass. Don't we pay for roads with our taxes?

A: Mike, I took that same road with a busload of Junior Rangers and the kids booed and NPS let us through for free. I don't know if they have a true right to charge you but this is what I do know.
We have a big problem in this county due to the fact most citizens and our government take the environment for granted. Agencies like National Parks, Forest Service and BLM budgets get smaller each year and at the same time demands on our lands increases.

I am sorry but I don't have a legal answer to your question, try calling the Sierra Club. I will say when I was in Utah and went up to some caves just outside Salt Lake City. National Parks charged us a fee to drive up the canyon and a fee to enter the cave, I pay my taxes so I guess I paid three times, Try booing next time.

Glenn and Nancy: Davis, California

Q: We just purchased 20 acres in Davis, California what type of trees should I be planting?

A: Glenn and Nancy, The best trees you or anyone should plant are the ones native to your area.       Remember native trees have spent thousands of years evolving in that particular area. Native       trees need very little extra water and care and are much healthier. In most areas you can find
      a large verity of deciduous and evergreen trees to your liking. Look to see what's growing       around you, take some cuttings to your local grower for identification and advice. The
       California Department of Forestry has a nursery in Davis (530) 753-2441, good luck.

Sandy: Scottsdale, Arizona

Q: Just caught for show "An Evening at the Sunset Ranch" and really liked it. How can I find out more about the the featured artiest, and can I get a CD?

A: Sandy, Yes just go to our Sunset Ranch Page and you will find a bio on each guest artist and you can find out about ordering a CD, you can also down load video clips of each performer, glad you liked it!

Susan: California Youth Coordinator

Q: I tried unsuccessfully to volunteer my eager to help youth group to California State Parks,
What's up with that?

A: Susan, It's funny but if you went to any company with volunteers that want to help they would bend over backwards to make it work. You need to understand at state and federal agencies that manage our lands are not a business and they just don't understand the power and ongoing support volunteers provide. All I can say is only competition inspires us to grow and do a better job, these agencies have no competition and are in many ways obsolete in todays world.

We often hear about parks and lands being closed off due the fact they don't have the people power to maintain said lands. AEF has hundreds of volunteers that love hard work and helping the environment, we provide a trained group, insured, equipped and ready to help and we get turned away all the time.

Talk on the street and in government circles is that it is time to privatize the many agencies that manage our lands. In doing this it would introduce a business model with goals, teamwork, accountability an a incentive to be creative and most of all a little competition. Its important to point out that other agencies like US Post Office, INS, etc. are dealing with the same problems. I do not want to apply that it is just a problem with groups that manage our lands. I have personally worked with some of the best people out there from the US Forest Service, State Parks, NPS, etc. I think its widely agreed its not the people its the system which needs to be completely reworked.

Don't feel bad, it took California State Parks four months to return our calls about volunteering and they said no thanks, we did have good luck working with Nevada's state parks.

PS. Try working with local and county agencies that manage parks and open space. They tend to operate on a business model and are eager for your help, don't give up we need you and your kids out there!