Current Human Impacts on the Olympic Temperate Rainforests

In order to protect the rainforest from which the future generation will be able to enjoy the benefits, in 1938, Olympic National Park was formally founded in Washington. With the establishment, the government strictly prohibited the deforestation and restricted the hunting within the land, which reduced the disturbance from human beings. Using the most scientific method to preserve rainforest on Olympic Peninsula in Washington, the Olympic National Park provided the fauna and flora in rainforest with more comfortable habitat and coordinated development between human beings and nature.

Hoh Rainforest (http://www.polyploid.net/wamaps/clallam
-jefferson/hoh-rainforest_1Aug08_3073-78.jpg)

As of today, human impact has been minimal and the rainforest is in 'good' condition. Park rangers, after obtaining knowledge about the rainforests, have transitioned from supporting and protecting the ecosystem to managing humans, alleviating human influence on the temperate rainforests. In addition, there is only one main road available for vehicles to access the rainforests. To maintain close contact with rainforest, visitors have had to use hiking and back-country trails.

Although numerous measures were rigorously administered, especially within these three years, humans have started to adversely affect the rainforest in Washington. More visitors have been attracted to the area and as a result more trash has been left behind, contributing to basal pollution. Moreover, some visitors developed their own hiking trails instead of using the original walking trails. In addition, studies have been conducted on the adverse effects of deforestation on the environment. Things like the impact of removing rotting logs from the forest floor or studies on forest succession in relation with river terraces all relate back to deforestation and the successive negative impacts the process develops down the line. 

Deforestation near Lake Quinault (http://www.nagelphotography.com/
p709613494/h2E14464F#h2e14464f)

Besides negative human impact within the lands, right outside of the park, mass deforestation has been occurring. Western Hemlock and Douglas-fir are the main staple for Washington's timber industry: both of which grow naturally on the peninsula. Large plots of land have been clear cut to feed the lucrative industry, unfortunately destroying old-growth forests and the natural landscape. Of course, as these trees are cut down, erosion and water pollution have now become an issue. 

为了防止雨林由于人们乱砍乱伐所导致的消失，使后代人无法再享受由雨林带来的便利，于1938年，奥林匹克国家公园正式成立，并且规定严禁在公园境内砍伐，限制打猎。这项政策的出台，无疑减少了人类对于雨林的破坏，以最自然科学的方式保护了原滋原味的生态系统，使各种动植物有更加舒适的生活栖息地，并且更加拉近了人与自然的关系，促进了人与自然以更加和谐的方式共同发展。

我认为得益于合理的人类管理方法，近年里，人类做到了以最原始的方式呈现雨林，并且对于奥林匹克国家公园中雨林的影响是微乎其微的。例如在雨林中有着名为park ranger的管理人员，他们出于好奇，选择更加深入的了解雨林。在充分了解完后，将得到的知识运用于管理人类对于雨林的干扰而非管理雨林本身便减少了人类对于雨林的生态破坏。并且在整个奥林匹克国家公园境内，只有一条供汽车行驶的主干道路。为了更好的接触雨林，人们只能选择通过园内的步行道去近距离地观赏这自然界的珍宝。

然而即使在再严格的管理中，尤其是这几年，我认为人类对于雨林的影响更趋于负面。越来越多游客的造访使许多新问题逐渐进入视线中。例如在观赏中，人们会随手丢弃随身携带的垃圾，造成对于原生态环境的污染。此外，一些旅客不按照原定的规划道路行走而选择自己开发爬山道路的行为无疑使雨林危在旦夕。除了人们对于公园境内的不良影响外，在境外，仍然存在着在主干道路附近大量乱砍乱伐的现象。并且，以长期角度来看，如今有人类所带来的汽车尾气排放及所带来的全球变暖现象同样使雨林面临着巨大挑战，城市上空悬浮的脏雾可能给在奥林匹克国家公园中的雨林造成巨大破坏。