Blocking Out the Noise

Ryan Reed- A Reprint from DCNR’s Forest Fridays

​“Of all the varieties of modern pollution, noise is the most insidious.” – Robert Lacey
 
There’s a saying that goes, “If it’s too loud, then you’re too old.”  You can count me in the “old” crowd, then, because I get much more satisfaction from moments of peace and quiet versus noisy events.  This observation leads me to ponder whether I’m the variable that has changed, or has society become louder?
 
One must not search long on the web to find a litany of subjects that not only bear evidence of a growing societal din, but myriad negative effects on humans and wildlife.  On any given day, it’s become difficult to ignore the seemingly ever-increasing, solitude-shattering noise, and much of it is intentional. 

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It is clear that peace and quiet has become a commodity affected in much the same manner as many others in terms of supply and demand.  Even if demand is relatively unchanged, the supply seems to be diminishing. Researchers from the U.S. National Parks Service’s Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division estimate that noise pollution “doubles or triples every 30 years”1. 
 
Whenever a resource becomes scarce, inflated economic value naturally follows, which is probably why an entire sector of smartphone apps is dedicated to helping users find the quietest areas in places like restaurants and bars, and even entire cities.  The tourism industry has also taken notice, promoting visitation to cities and wilderness areas based entirely on their ratings for quietness.  The value placed on it is also reflected, to some degree, in the noise ordinances of numerous towns and cities. 
 
Perhaps it’s a logical exercise for society to reevaluate the intrinsic value of the absence of noise. Should the quiet character of an area be protected as an essential natural resource like clean air and water? Should noise pollution be viewed in a similar light as roadside litter? To what degree does our collective noisiness detract from our quality of life, and what level of noise do we expect and accept?
 
For those of us who value peace and solitude, we can be glad that there is still plenty to be had in Pennsylvania, especially in our expansive state forests.  To still be able to go and listen to a peaceful babbling brook, the winds whispering through the pines, or recognize the faint call of the pileated woodpecker, is comforting.  To many, these experiences are valuable, and deserve protection.
 
1  Bosker, Bianca. The End of Silence, The Atlantic, October 2019.
 
The Bradford County Conservation District is committed to helping people manage resources wisely.  You can visit the Bradford County Conservation District at 200 Lake Rd in Wysox across from the Wysox Fire Hall. Contact us at (570) 485-3144 or visit our web page at www.bccdpa.com.