Of all the natural wonders of the earth, forests are one of the most fascinating ever. The mystery beneath tall, thick-layered trees, the endearing sounds of free-flowing water, the music played by the animals in it, the breathtaking scenic views, and the wilderness that is so pure and lovely are what make forests a standing proof of nature's glory and power. With beauty that is so captivating and mysticism so unfathomable to man, forests are domains of unexplainable purity and divinity.

The importance of forests go beyond the aesthetic limits. Probably unknown to many, our forests are great sources of our most basic needs for living and survival. Among other things, forests function as the most effective watersheds in this world. With forests' rich, loose soil, thick humus layer, and the soil-retention capabilities of trees, our global water supply is still somehow at a safe level. Also, forests are the home of many species of animals. Forests serve as the breeding and living ground for many kinds of animals. The quality of refuge forests provided to animals is essential for the ecological balance, which in turn, is important in our lives. In economy, the timer supply we get from forests is just one of the many enduring benefits we have been enjoying. Needless to say, forests are our major reservoir of the only kind of air our bodies need--oxygen.

Although the world recognizes the immeasurable worth of forests, they still are not free from the harmful effects of rapid civilization. Industrialization, for one, has been causing irreversible damages to numerous forest areas worldwide. Needless to say, all life in these forests are at a great danger as well. Illegal logging, mining, and countless misuse and abuse of forest resources are greatly endangering the welfare of our forests. In Wisconsin, for example, the 16 million acres
of forest lands are currently in the middle of several conservation and protection issues. Global warming, green house effect, and the increasing industrial pollution are also major concerns of forest management all over the world.

Good thing, though, that there are now several progressive movements lobbying for greater forest and environmental protection. These movements exist for the advancement of knowledge and proactive measure to help save endangered forest areas. Greenpeace International and the Food and Agriculture Organization are just two of the biggest names in the global arena fighting for the salvation of our forests.

In the realm of academe, many institutions of higher learning are now pumping up their academic programs geared towards educating people on forest management. There are no concerted efforts among universities, public institutions, and private organizations to mobilize education as a tool for empowering the movement for better forest protection. Startling to note is the move of many universities to make their academic programs on forest management more accessible to the public through online education. This is such a welcome development that we should all commend and laud.

The Professional Career Development Institute, for one, offers a college course online for those who want to be forest rangers. Its Professional Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Program is a good online course on obtaining competent training on building a profession in environmental and forest management. In Oregon State University's online degree program, bachelor courses on environmental science and natural resources are offered. These courses are with the accreditation of the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. The University of Maryland University College and Columbia Southern University are reputable institutions also offering online degree on environmental management. Other universities, like the Arizona State University, Duke University, New York Institute of Technology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, even offer graduate degree programs related to environmental and forest management.

There also exist online bookstores where people can purchase *training manuals* and guidebooks on forest management. The listing in www.forestshop.com is a rich collection of materials covering the basics up to the complex issues relating forest management. In www.tutorial.emagister.net, a wide selection of training courses and manuals are easily available for those wanting to take forest management as a profession.

These online offerings are signs of the increasing awareness of the community that the best way to make people act productively is through the merits of education. True enough, education is really a vital springboard to jumpstart a movement as long term and as wide as forest conservation and reservation.