Visitors want to see the forest and the trees

To the Editor;

Regarding John Floyd’s May 18 blog (in the Bangor Daily News) citing his five reasons why a Katahdin region national monument/park is a bad idea, he writes as if the whole North Woods were on the chopping block.

He writes about the area east of Baxter State Park becoming subject to federal regulation, “Removing the timber industry’s ability to operate freely and without crushing regulation will only further cripple Maine’s economy.” Really?

Maine is a big state. The paper companies have much more pressing issues than the pulp from a few tens of thousands acres of our forestland. And there are plenty of places to hunt and fish.

In fact, the vast majority of Mainers and tourists to Maine unquestionably prefer a trip to the forest free of vistas of low-density, harvested “forest,” punctuated by piles of slash. And most people I know really like the idea of a forest experience, for themselves and their families, that is actually relatively free from the risk and noise of firearms. People I know treasure the experience when, at least for a few short hours or days, they can actually be among the delights of the woods as a peer and an equal, not a master with the forest as their servant.

We want a park. It’s good for the state.

Alan Clemence
Charleston