Is Montana in eco-collapse?

Eco-author Jared Diamond says humankind is committing “ecocide” – failing to recognize environmental degradation before it is too late and bringing on its own collapse. Diamond says such societies as the Mayans of Central America, and the Vikings on Greenland likewise brought about their own doom. He warns many modern societies are also headed for eco-doom – including the state of Montana.

The state of Montana? In collapse? Why?

Diamond claims key problems, including raging forest fires, unsustainable farming, and impending climate change.

Montana’s first problem, Diamond says, is that its vast forests are threatened by huge forest fires. It costs the federal government too much to thin the trees and take out the dead wood, which lightning ignites into massive flames. The state’s timber industry has already declined 80 percent – which Diamond says is because Montana can no longer compete with tree-growers in warmer climates.

By DENNIS AVERY

Full Story: http://www.theprairiestar.com/articles/2006/09/15/ag_news/opinion/opinion13.txt