Article Reflection No. 47 (4/23/2023)

Article: The Giving Tree

(Photo Credit: The New York Times)

Reflection:

In The New York Times article “The Giving Tree”, journalist Cara Buckley elaborates on how The Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin has taken a unique, less expected approach to their sustainable, abundant forests. According to the article, the tribe places greater prioritization on the forest’s health over monetary profits, while an increasing issue of the preservation process is the lacking labor force behind wood-cutting. As an exerting occupation that also involves danger, the occupation is key to maintaining this sustainable forest because it supports the annual harvests (which involve cutting down trees that are dying or ill).

It is often so easy to become absorbed in one’s own materialistic prioritizations—especially when it comes to monetary benefits. This forest and the people’s approach to it as caregivers reminds me of selflessness, which, through action, can contribute to the environment in beneficial ways.