Applegater Winter 2012 19
OPINION
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Model BLM collaboration
process tested by Pilot
by lUke RUeDiGeR
The Pilot Joe timber sale above
Cantrall-Buckley Park has been proposed
as a model of forest management and
community collaboration for the public
lands of southwest Oregon. The goals of
this project as defined by the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) include fuel
reduction, the restoration of complex forest
conditions, the retention of old-growth
trees, and the accelerated development of
old-growth characteristics. The timber sale
was touted as a restorative approach where
timber production was a by-product of
ecologically based treatments.
Unfortunately, the recent logging of
large, old-growth trees has threatened to
unravel the delicate collaborative process.
Controversy revolves around the marking
and removal of old-growth trees—some
over 150 years old, as well as other large,
dominant trees. The trees were cut despite
the appeals of many collaborative members
that they be retained. The removal of these
trees is clearly inconsistent with dry forest
restoration principals, the project’s stated
goals, the Environmental Assessment (EA),
and the prescription as outlined by BLM
staff at stakeholder meetings and public
field trips.
Many of the trees removed had the
structural conditions and fire resilience
stated to be a part of the “desired future
condition.” Identified in the EA as
“Ecosystem Restoration Goals,” the
retention of large, old trees would have
helped to “increase the average diameter
of the residual stand,” and served to
“accelerate the development of structural
complexity such as large tree structures.”
Unfortunately, BLM’s treatments have
done otherwise and bring into question
the agency’s commitment to dry forest
restoration principals, the first of which
is to “protect and conserve all older trees
(trees greater than 150 years of age).”
BLM will tell you that they cut only
two old-growth trees, documented to be
182 and over 200 years old, and that these
are only a small percentage of the project.
They do admit, however, that other large
trees should not have been cut and were
inconsistent with project prescriptions.
Why is this important? Because
so little of Oregon’s old-growth remains,
and old-growth trees are key components
of healthy and fire resilient forests. Large
old trees are important for spotted owl,
Pacific fisher, and many other species. Also
because BLM is proposing these pilots in
older forests while claiming that old trees
will be saved.
BLM pilots are seen as a solution for
forests in western Oregon and beyond.
With the goal of “maintenance of older
trees,” the pilot is sold as forest restoration,
but it appears to be driven by industrial
timber interests. Old trees have high
ecological and social value, and have been
the point of contention in federal land
management for decades. In fact, BLM
claims that the pilot projects were proposed
to address “the gridlock and conflicts” that
have “stymied” federal land management.
Much of this conflict is directly related to
the removal of old-growth trees. According
to the EA, the ability of the agency to move
forward “depends in part, on the social
acceptability of restoration techniques.”
The protection of old-growth trees was
proposed as a way to avoid this controversy
while maintaining important ecological
values.
Unfortunately, with the removal of
many large, old trees, BLM has welcomed
conflict and gridlock back into the debate.
The agency has further inflamed the long-
standing lack of trust between the BLM,
local citizens, and the environmental
community, by implementing treatments
that lack environmental integrity and
contradict statements made throughout
the collaborative process. This lack
of accountability does not foster a
collaborative environment, nor does
it help the collaborative move forward
in a positive way. The entire point of
collaboration is to move past long-standing
issues, including a lack of accountability,
responsibility, and trust.
Luke Ruediger
Community representative for
BLM Pilot Interdisciplinary Team
541-890-8974
ED. NOTE: See photos provided by Luke
Ruediger online at www.applegater.org.
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Warm thanks
To the Editor:
Over on the four-mile mark of Carberry Creek Road, with workers and construction
projects all summer, I got an up-close experience of the Complex Fire. Most of it was
just over the border into California five to seven miles away.
There were several mountains between us so I actually never really feared for direct
fire at my location, though you never know. But the smoke, traffic and other effects were
quite apparent. Sandy Shaffer’s missive and daily updates were a constant companion
each day along with watching the weather for hints of possibilities. It colored my
sunsets, took out the stars, and made breathing unpleasant many times. I made a video
that spun a 360º from clear sky to red and back to clear in one evening. It really gave
a flavor to the summer for me.
And the most important thing to say is that it made me aware of and grateful for
the very large number of good folks who kept me, the community and much of the
forest safe.
Thank you to all: the firefighters at the front lines, those behind them in planning
and strategizing and mapping, in medical prep and help, in vehicles of all sorts from
helicopters and airplanes to trucks and busses, for the food and other creature “comforts”
that must be provided, the citizenry and volunteers who provided all sorts of needed
unknowns, too much in all to be remembered and thought of. There were too many
unsung heroes, undocumented moments and gifts to remember and record.
Please, from all of us in the Applegate, southern Oregon in general, and northern
California, please accept this late note of deep thanks and remembrance.
Greeley Wells, Applegate
Check these out — only on our website
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• Opinion piece photos related to the Pilot Joe timber sale
• Full-length version of J.D. Rogers’ “Graduation gown or SF party”
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