Dennis Martinez
Church and military records show that in the early 19th century California’s forests were not “wild” but carefully tended. The catastrophic wildfires of today were extremely rare. Dennis Martinez talks about Indian forest practice and restoration. He has worked for 35 years in eco-cultural restoration specializing in tribal lands and cultural issues. Contact him at <http://www.ser.org/iprn/founder.asp>
The forest at the Mountain Grove Center For New Education, near Glendale in SW Oregon was clear-cut in the 1930s and 40s. It has come back thick, young, and dark. When Indians cared for the land the old growth incense cedars and chinquapins were spaced widely, plants thrived on the sun-lit forest floor, and animals found shelter and food. Dennis Martinez knows about Indian forest practice and was restoring this land when I interviewed him in 1996.
code: N 315 For a broadcast quality mp3 version click HERE
