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Interfaith Perspectives on Land Use
Preserving
Our Forest Heritage: A Declaration on Forest Conservation
for the 21st Century
Prepared by a coalition of churches, synagogues
and other para-religious organizations concerned
about the fate and future of our nation
Preliminary ratification and announcement at
the Cradle of Forestry, Pisgah National Forest,
NC
December 10, 2000
(excerpt)
Section 1: A RELIGIOUS VISION OF FORESTS
"The Earth is the Lord's and the fullness
thereof...." (Psalm 24:1)
1-1. Forests are more than trees.
The world's forests are unique God-given living
systems of sunlight and soils, moisture and air,
spirit and matter, animals and plants, plus innumerable
fungi and subsurface organisms which combine to
produce unique and essential services for life
and the health of the planet.
And the earth brought forth grass, and herb
yielding seed after its kind, and the tree yielding
fruit, whose seed was in itself, after its kind:
and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:12)
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1-2. Scripture presents trees as the
emblem of God's Creation.
On the basis of textual prominence alone, the
tree is the most important non-human living organism
in Scripture. While trees are used in a variety
ways, the tree is particularly used to symbolize
the blessings that God bestows upon humans through
creation. Conversely the destruction of trees
in Scripture is a sign of God's wrath and punishment
for all transgressions of the order of nature
and spirit. Without introduction trees are the
first thing which the first people meet in the
Book of Genesis. Throughout Scripture, trees are
the biblical emblem of creation.
And the Lord God made to grow out of the ground
every tree that is pleasant and good for food....
(Genesis 2:9)
... and the leaves of the tree were for the
healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:2)
1-3. Christians and Jews are called to
care for creation and the forests.
The Scriptures call people of faith to care for
the land and all its features and creatures. Most
Christians and Jews accept that we are called
to dominion and responsible stewardship.
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