The forest is a living organism. Maybe you’ve heard this kind of thing before, perhaps from a hippie or some cheesy environmental meme. I’m here to tell you that it’s true. When you live in a forest and pay attention, you see all the ways each plant or animal — even me! — blends into a much bigger picture.
Fires are a natural part of the forest organism. Selective logging can serve a similar purpose, so long as clear cuts are not widespread. As I write in my latest column, conservation doesn’t mean covering the forest in bubble wrap, but rather ensuring, in perpetuity, its survival and functionality.
If you want to save a tree, you must first save the forest.
You can read more in “The forest takes care of itself, but we can help,” published in the Monday, June 9, 2025 edition of the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Aaron J. Brown is a columnist and member of the editorial board for the Minnesota Star Tribune. His new book about Hibbing Mayor Victor Power and his momentous fight against the world’s largest corporation will be out soon.
