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Md Nadim Ahmed's avatar

What is eco modernist outlook on mass timber construction? A lot of traditional environmentalists hate it because they think it will lead to more deforestation.

My opinion is that mass timber construction will increase the demand for forestry in the long run since it will trees will become more economically valuable than using the land agriculture or mining. Mass timber construction might also become the largest carbon negative industry.

My assumption is that a lot of regulations around "environmentally sustainable forestry" is holding the industry back. If we deregulate the sector there will be more planting of fast growing (potentially genetically modified) trees.

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Miles Fidelman's avatar

What seems to be dead is the roll-up-our-sleeves spirit of 1970s environmentalism. Back in the day, a river burned, and the next thing you know, folks are cleaning up rivers, launching recycling programs, getting things done. Nixon signed all the great environmental legislation. Now, it's about marching in the streets, screaming and shouting, demanding that somebody do something, and raising money for politicians.

It's not that the do-it-ourselves spirit is dead, it's that it moved on to volunteer crisis response, building houses with Habitat for Humanity, writing open source software, and building cities in the dessert every year, at Burning Man. Meanwhile, try to take any initiative at home - and everybody and their brother is breathing down your throat - bureaucrats getting in your face, snake-oil salesmen trying to sell feel-good bullshit, politicians asking for money, folks complaining about your language -everything but actually advancing progress.

It's time to get serious about actually solving problems. And, to that end, I put in a plug for my own efforts to rebuild suburban communities - over at ThisOldNeighborhood.Net (thisoldneigbhorhood.substack.com). Where we're actually trying to get something done - and yes, we could use a little support - if only of the moral kind.

And yes, I'm feeling a bit frustrated right about now, after getting another ton of asks from politicians. Sigh...

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