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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (July 22, 2004)
BY ALETA RAPHAEL-BROCK Environmentalists react to gigantic timber sale. T his is no ordinary timber sale: With a final proposed extraction of 372 mil- lion board feet (that’s the equivalent to 70,000 loaded logging trucks), the Biscuit fire salvage project is the largest timber sale in re- cent national history. Three of the first five sales sold last week to Oregon timber companies, meaning that logging could already be under way in the Siskiyou National Forest in south- west Oregon, an area that was proposed as a na- tional monument in 2000. The sales are located within the area of the Biscuit fire that burned in 2002 and surround the Kalmiopsis Wilderness and several impor- tant salmon rivers, such as the Rogue, the Illinois and the Chetco. In such a biologically diverse and sensitive area, “This is the last place you want to do logging,” said Dominick DellaSala of the Klamath-Siskiyou branch of the World Wildlife Fund. With cutting planned in 6,750 acres of land designated under the Northwest Forest Plan as late successional reserves (LSR), much of which are old-growth forests, and 8,150 acres of inventoried roadless areas, the sale plows straight through logging regulations left intact from the Clinton administration. Judy McHugh of the Biscuit Fire Recovery Project says that the Forest Service plan meets the 13 standards and guidelines that allow for cutting in the LSR. The other 4,500 acres of land are within matrix lands, open to logging under the Northwest Forest Plan. Environmentalists at state and national lev- els are outraged by the Bush administration’s manipulation of intact and highly supported en- vironmental policies, such as the roadless area rule, which prohibits logging in certain areas with a high environmental value. Members of Greenpeace International as well as local or- ganizations have conducted onsite protests and have petitioned Oregon representatives to stop the logging. Josh Laughlin of the Cascadia Wildlands Project says that justification for the salvage sale relies on bogus scientific reports, such as the Session’s Report released last year claiming the need to log as much as possible as fast as possible in order to prevent future fires and to effectively rebuild future owl habitat. “Basically what we’re seeing is a payback to the over $1 million the (timber) industry tucked in George Bush’s back pocket,” he claims. “This is science for sale and nothing else.” Representatives from several southern Oregon conservation groups requested a tem- porary restraining order July 16 from a federal court in Medford in order to protect the old growth reserves in the Siskiyou Wild Rivers Area. They claim that the sale will extract more than 50 million board feet of old growth reserve logs. The Forest Service bypassed the custom- ary citizen review process and approved the sales under an “emergency exemption” to sal- vage the burned timber and recreate habitats. LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S Renewable Energy Technician Program is accepting NEW STUDENTS for fall 2004 However, wildfires naturally help to shape area as well as replanting and reconstruction of lost habitat. “We feel like we’re making an in- diversity and are important in evolving ecosys- tems, said DellaSala. vestment,” she said. And Laughlin says, The Bush adminis- tration’s recent an- “It’s absurd to say that nouncement of termi- the spotted owl habitat was decimated.” He nation of the roadless claims that owls still area rule provides a utilize burned habitat. timely open door to timber companies, al- Then why pay money — a March 2004 Eco lowing cutting to go ahead while state gov- Northwest report finds that extraction of over ernments scramble to set up comprehensive 300 million board feet will cost the U.S policies. Even though Gov. Kulongoski re- Treasury more than $34 million — to de- cently declared the stroy habitat that still Siskiyou Wild Rivers exists, then try to re- Area “a natural re- source jewel — not build it as though it were natural? only to Oregon but to the nation,” there may This is without mention of the poten- not be time for him to petition the Forest tial erosion and other damage to sensitive Service. “That’s prob- lematic because road- ecosystems that is caused by logging in OLD-GROWTH FOREST MARKED FOR less areas are on the watershed areas. “Our LOGGING IN THE CHETCO WATERSHED chopping block now,” AS PART OF THE BISCUIT SALE. concerns have to do said Laughlin. Environmentalists with impacts on wild salmon and degrading streams,” explains Don agree that the Biscuit Fire Recovery Project will devastate old growth reserves, harm im- Smith of the Siskiyou Project, one of the organ- izations that requested the restraining order. portant habitats and ruin recreation in the area. “People go to the Siskiyou rivers area for Healthy streams and rivers are crucial to wild salmon survival. beauty and solitude, not for clear-cuts and muddy rivers,” said Laughlin. “It takes decades McHugh claims that the Biscuit Fire Recovery Project includes the logging of the to recreate habitat that we already have.” ew COURTESY CWP Salvage Gone Mad PEACE on EARTH begins at BIRTH! HEMP & organic cotton clothing for men, women & kids * Glass, incense, tapestries & gifts * Stickers, t-shirts, jewelry & more! Fly on by for a PIECE of the PIE! Mon-Sat 10-9/ Sun 12-6 * Corner of 11th & Willamette in the ❤ of Downtown Eugene FAR HORIZONS MONTESSORI SCHOOL CELEBRATES 25 Years! Student Dan Orleck with a photovoltaic solar panel Lane Energy Management/Renewable Energy Technician Program is funded by EWEB & BPA CALLING ALL FORMER STUDENTS, PARENTS & STAFF You are invited to our October Celebration Let us know where you are . . . For information about the Renewable Energy Management program, call Roger Ebbage at (541) 463-3977. For more info, log on to: www.farhorizonsmontessori.com or call: 485-0521 2490 Hilyard St. • Eugene an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution JULY 22, 2004 9
