| Centennial Horizon - What is our vision? |
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| Take the long view - make parks last forever |
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Act like we're going to live forever
Environmental slogans come and go. Think globally, act locally. Reduce, reuse, recycle. When simplified, the intention is clearer: enjoy the benefits of our land and history in a way that allows the people who will follow in our footsteps to do the same. To do this, we protect our land and history from the ravages of greed, time and ill-use. Each kind of use consumes something; every foot on every path wears away the surface, and each day spent in the sun and rain moves an historic site one step closer to oblivion.
In some cases, we protect important places by replacing what we consume. In others, we have to recognize our replacement strategy can’t last when it relies on something that will eventually run out—like fossil fuels—or when the environment changes so much, the cost to keep something going exceeds its value—like fighting rising sea levels or the changing course of a river.
People, not just governments, are developing an ability to maintain their high standard of living by changing the way they use resources. How? By using as little raw material as possible and by using resources we can easily replace. What we do consume must produce the highest benefits, and endure for a long period of time. As a society, we consume vast amounts of power, paper, fuel and other chemicals. Even changes that produce small savings will add up.
- Who do you look to learn about environmentally-friendly living; the role of nature and history in shaping the environment?
- What could the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department learn from you about greening up the way state parks and historic areas are operated?
Talk to us.
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