Chuck and Rose Lane Leaveli: The Many Ways of Teaching Conservatio

Seldom a day goes by that we don't says, "Biodiversityis the key." Instead Charlane Plantation has become one hear about an unethical company that of consisting of a sprawling monocul- of most well-managed tree farms in has dumped toxic wastes into a river, a ture of one kind of tree, Charlane the nation. The quality of their work is bankruptbusiness that has left behind Plantation indudes a variety of hard- exemplified by their many awards:the a polluted work site, or a greedy land- woods (e.g. red, white and post oak; AmericanForest Foundation's Georgia developer who wants to destroy a rare tupelo; black gum) and softwoods Tree Farmerof the Year, the American Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/58/3/132/47517/4450099.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 natural habitat. It seems as if just (e.g. loblolly, slash, long leaf, and Pulpwood Association's Forestry Ac- about everyone is ready to trash the short leaf pines), as well as an aston- tivist of the Year, the National Arbor environment to make a buck. That's ishing arrayof other plants, induding Day Foundation's Good Steward why it's so refreshing to know that established legumes (e.g. partridge Award, and the Central Georgia Soil there are people like Chuck and Rose pea), native grasses, and Egyptian and WaterDistrict's Conservationist of Lane Leavell. wheat. Charlane Plantation also sup- the Year, among others. These awards When I met Chuck in the late 1970s, ports a diverse population of wildlife, follow a family tradition: Mrs. A.V. he was alreadya well-known musician. induding quail, deer, turkey, and White, Rose Lane's grandmother,also His previousband (the AllmanBrothers even a group of grumpy alligators. won conservation awards for her for- Band) had disbanded, and Chuck had Chuck's and Rose Lane's emphasis estry work. formed an eclectic group named Sea on conservation and habitat preserva- Although his work as a musician Level. I spent many an evening- tion has distinguished their style of has made Chuck famous, Chuck and induding most of finals week one management from that of most other Rose Lane are equally proud of their quarter-in a dub called The Last Re- tree farmers. The Leavell's environ- forestry and conservation awards; in mentally friendly approach has been like these sort listening to Chuck He was Chuck's words, "Awards play. remarkablysuccessful: Indeed, under mean every bit as much to me as a the best piano I'd ever heard. player the guidance of Chuckand Rose Lane, gold or platinum record." True to his Through the years, I occasionally heard about Chuck. After Sea Level disbanded in 1980, Chuck played and toured with a variety of musicians, induding Dr. John, Dion, Dave Ed- munds, ,Alex Taylor, Hank Williams, Jr., and . If you're one of the tens of millions of people who bought a Rolling Stones' CD (or who saw on any of their tours) during the past 15 years or so, you've heard Chuck play. If you're one of the millions of people who bought "Eric Clapton Unplugged" (the Grammy's 1992Album of the Year),you've heard Chuck play. Chuck is sought and ad- V~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ mired by the best musicians through- out the world. However, Chuck is more than a great musician. Chuck and his wife Rose Lane (a successful businesswoman in her own right) are also world-class conserva- tionists and tree farmers. Charlane Plantation is their 1,200-acre award- winning tree farm in aptly named Twiggs County, Georgia (northeast of Macon). Unlike many tree farmers, Chuck and Rose Lane base their man- agement plan on conservation, habitat Chuck Leavell (right) with fellow musician Mick preservation, and balance. As Chuck Jagger.

132 THEAMERCAN BIOOY TEACHR,VOWME 56, NO. 3, MARCH4996 greaterrespect for and appreciationof forests and other natural resources. Chuck and Rose Lane regularly host field trips and workshops at Charlane Plantationfor teachers and school chil- dren. They've installed-all at their own expense-a nature trail so that teachers and students can best appre- ciate the diversity of the forest. Clearly, science teachers aren't the only people who can promote science education and, in the process, make a difference. Chuck is as knowledgeable and pas- sionate about nature and conservation as he is about music. Moreover, he's always got time to talk about conser- vation or biodiversity. He's as com- fortable explaining the importance of trees to a six-year-old as he is with Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/58/3/132/47517/4450099.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 speaking with legislators such as U.S. Senator Sam Nunn about the impor- tance of preserving our natural habi- tats. Like most biology teachers,Chuck is a tirelessadvocate for the importance Chuck and Rose Lane Leavell, tree farmers and advocates for conservation. of environmentaleducation. So the next time you read about a land developer who wants to pave a words, Chuck and Rose Lane proudly tion, and has established a scholarship wetlands or destroy a rare habitat, display their conservationawards near fund for students studying the envi- rememberthat there are many people their staircase, right beside Chuck's ronment, wildlife and forestry (The like Chuck and Rose Lane Leavell- gold and platinum records. Chuck Leavell Scholarship Fund, concemed citizens who make a differ- Chuckand Rose Lane take an imme- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry, ence by helping teach others about diate, personal and hands-on ap- The University of Georgia, Athens, science and conservation. Like teach- proach to their work as conservation- GA 30602). ers, people like Chuck and Rose Lane ists: on days when he's not touring Chuck and Rose Lane each quiet Leavell try to educate others about (he often registers at hotels under and unassuming-are also strong ad- the importance of the environment his pseudonym, Mr. Forester), Chuck vocates for science education. For ex- and-in their own small way-im- gets on his four-wheeler or old John ample, Chuckparticipates in the Geor- prove the quality of our lives. Deere 4020 tractor and builds dams, gia Forestry Association's "Project plants trees, and gets dirty. He also Learning Tree," an award-winning, sponsors fundraising events that ben- in-school environmental education Randy Moore efit conservationand habitatpreserva- program that helps children have a Editor

Should Creationism Be Part of EvolutionStatement?

Dear Editor: ter. However, I disagree with the po- belief in creationism, is not a role of The National Association of Biology sition taken with respect to the total science." While I agree with the au- Teachers(NABT) Statement on Teach- exclusion of creationism, scientific or thors' position that the beliefs of sci- ing Evolution(ABT, January 1996) pro- otherwise, from the science curricu- entific creationists do not constitute a vides a clear and firm declaration in lum. scientific theory, and as such, they do support of the central, unifying role In the position statement, the au- not belong in the science classroom, I that evolution plays in biological ex- thors contended that ". . . creation also believe that it is impossible to planations and the consequent role beliefs have no place in the science avoid discussion of creation beliefs in that evolution must play in the design classroom," and ". . . are not part of a the context of a discussion of evolu- of a biology curriculum. As a biology valid science curriculum." Further- tionary theory. The position statement teacher, I am very pleased to see more, they also argued that ". . . con- should address the fact that biology NABT take a strong stand in this mat- trasting science with religion, such as teachers need to develop instructional

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