Conservation Corner: April 26, 1999

Are All Chemicals Bad?
by James L. Cummins

All too often, the word "chemical" has a bad reputation. Yet, everything - and I do mean everything - is made of chemicals. Water, which is made of two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen, is a chemical. Gasoline, which also is made of hydrogen and oxygen, with a little carbon added to it, is a chemical.

I know, most of the time people are complaining about chemicals, pesticides and sometimes fertilizers. However, we seldom think of the fact that proper pesticide and fertilizer use saves wildlife habitat. In a world with an increasing population, more food and fiber is not only needed, it is demanded.

To achieve that objective, we have two choices - we can produce more food and fiber on existing land or we can utilize other lands - lands that are currently serving as valuable habitat for wildlife. I'm not saying that we can't have wildlife and highly productive agricultural and timber lands; the rice industry is one example of having both. However, without maximizing production on existing land, encroachment by these increasing needs will decrease the amount of habitat available for wildlife.

The use of chemicals allows the food and fiber that is needed to be produced on the minimum number of acres. If we could not increase soil productivity through fertilization, many more acres would be needed to feed and clothe a hungry and cold world.

For example, in many parts of the world, especially in areas with poor economies such as the third world and parts of the former Soviet Union, people are much more interested in feeding their family than protecting rain forests or other types of habitat that wildlife need. People only care about the environment after they have met basic needs (i.e., food, clothing and shelter). The world is becoming more and more developed each year and it is demanding a quality and abundant food supply.

Most people do not associate pesticide and fertilizer use with conserving wildlife habitat - they usually associate it with degrading habitat. If our nation's farmers were using the same farming practices that were in place forty years ago, it would take an area 15 times the size of Mississippi to meet the demand.

Am I trying to say that all pesticides are good for the environment? Absolutely not! That is why DDT and toxaphene are not on the market today. Most pesticides that do exist today have to meet strict guidelines of the Environmental Protection Agency. Most of them break-down in the environment to a non-toxic chemical. Through continuing research (i.e., genetic, growth, etc.), we will make sure that we can meet the needs of a growing world and do it in a manner that will leave the land in as good or better shape than when we found it. Isn't that the way it should be?

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.