Wildfire mitigation will cause loss of habitat

Chainsaws are raised in the air, Elon Musk style, ready to take down the evil forests on the 323-acre Tucker County Open Space and on Park Hill at Arapaho Ranch near Nederland. What did the forests do wrong? Nothing, it’s just that 9 out of 10 wildfires are started by human stupidity and carelessness, and the forests have to pay for it. Why does this matter? Well, the forests are sanctuary to many forms of wildlife, and this will cause loss of habitat for them. Lodgepole and ponderosa pine forests hold soil on steep slopes in place. They shade the ground and keep it cool and moist. They break the fierce winds that roar down from the tundra, and they minimize windthrow hazards. Not only are trees rich in conifer seeds and insects targeted for removal, but also the shrub understory, such as kinnikinnick and Oregon grape, which is rich in berries for birds and wildlife, will be removed. Especially targeted is the low-growing common juniper with its tasty berrylike cones that robins solitaires and bluebirds love. Groundcover, including wildflowers such as fairy slipper orchids and spotted coralroot, will be crushed by heavy machinery. And old dead snag trees used by birds for nesting sites and thermal cover will be gone. Is this what we want in our mountains — an urban landscape with only pavement and non-native bluegrass?

— Diane Brown, Nederland

Francis was actually the first American pope

As I was reading Clarence Page’s Sunday column, it struck me again how very WRONG journalists are in how they are describing the new Pope. In many instances, they are referring to Leo as the first American Pope.

How presumptuous it is to equate America with the USA. When I learned geography, America was comprised of South, Central and North America — of which the U.S. is only a small part. Journalists can refer to Pope Leo as the first U.S. pope or the first North American pope, but Francis was actually the first American pope.

— Beth Cole, Boulder

Therapy in schools could reduce stress, anxiety

From the National Institute of Mental Health, 20% of children from the ages of 13 to 18 struggle with mental health. As we continue to develop and see our complex world change, we can not ignore the fact that children have a mental health crisis. Children struggle with anxiety, depression, dysmorphia disorders, and many more. The stigma around therapy is seen as very negative, and that is not what therapy really is. As a society, we should change how young adults feel about therapy. From an article in Positive Psychology, “Therapy focuses on enhancing wellbeing by cultivating positive emotions, strengths & purpose in life.”

One of the biggest reasons for this crisis is how much pressure children have on them, such as at school, on social media, and not knowing what to do next, creates an anxiety-filled environment. Many teenagers do everything they can to try to fit in and paint this perfect picture. This increases the feelings of anxiety and loneliness that these adolescents feel. Another factor is their access to health care, even though mental health services have gotten much better, many children still don’t have access to those resources.

As a freshman at CU, I learned that the school offers free drop-in therapy sessions with Counseling and Psychiatric Services. If you need someone to talk to, you can just walk right in and there will be a therapist available for you. As someone who has personally used this resource, it has really helped me manage the small and important challenges in my life.

I believe that bringing this kind of service to other schools, even elementary schools, could go a long way in reducing stress and anxiety for children and young adults who struggle with mental health.

— Sofia Passanisi, CU Boulder