As a biology teacher of Carmel high school for the past 38 years I am dismayed by the recent decision that calls for a logging operation of the forests on the Ryder property off Route 301. All of a sudden, after nearly 100 years of the forests "managing" themselves, we now need a team of human "experts" who are now going to manage the forests instead. Is it because the forests have suddenly "forgotten" how to manage themselves-after approximately 300 million years of deciduous forests taking care of themselves by a well-known process called natural selection? Or is because there are those among us who, when looking at the forests, do not see the inherent beauty of nature, but instead, see the potential greenery of the Almighty dollar that they can get from the commercial exploitation of those forests?

The forests around us have been evolving slowly to their present state by a well-understood biological process called ecological succession, a process by which, one ecosystem slowly replaces another, then another, until after 100 years or more, that climax-ecosystem establishes stability, and changes no more. The forests on Route 301 are like teenagers, in their middle stages of succession, and if left alone, will gradually evolve and grow into a magnificent climax forest thatcan be relished by our future generations.

Besides which, as you drive along Route 301- just look at the beauty of these "natural forests". How can any human be so arrogant as to think that they can make them any more beautiful, or more functional than they are now?

RM, Carmel