The Truth about Logging and Wildfires
Exposing the Bush Administration’s "Thinning" Plan

"Exactly this kind of treatment is what has to happen across the West of the United States. We have only 20 years to treat 30 million acres."
— Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth, when visiting the Fort Valley Experimental Forest as reported by the Associated Press on August 9, 2001

"The removal of large, merchantable trees from forests does not reduce fire risk and may, in fact, increase such risk."
— USDA Forest Service and Department of the Interior, September 8, 2000

"The Congressional Research Service (CRS) recently addressed the effect of logging on wildfires in an August 2000 report and found that the current wave of forest fires is not related to a decline in timber harvest on federal lands. In the most recent period (1980 through 1999) the data indicate that fewer acres burned in areas where logging activity was limited."
— USDA Forest Service and Department of the Interior, September 8, 2000

The Bush Administration and Forest Service are playing on the public’s fear of fire to justify massive logging projects across 30 million acres of National Forests throughout the West. These logging projects — which the Administration and Forest Service refer to as "thinning" or "fuels reduction" projects — have the potential to greatly increase logging within America's public National Forests.

The Bush Administration and Forest Service are using the Fort Valley timber sale in the Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, Arizona as the posterchild for the type of "thinning" they envision over 30 million acres of National Forests.

This photograph of the Fort Valley timber sale represents a graphic example of the type of "thinning" the Bush Administration and Forest Service are proposing for 30 million acres of National Forest lands in the West. This photo is available for reproduction. Click here for a high resolution version. Please credit to Martos Hoffman.

For more information, contact:

Matthew Koehler
Native Forest Network
406-542-7343
koehler@wildrockies.org

Bryan Bird
Forest Conservation Council
505-466-2459
bmbird@worldnet.att.net

Chad Hanson
National Director, Sierra Club
Executive Director, John Muir Project
626-792-0109
chadhanson@juno.com

 

The Fort Valley timber sale, like all commercial logging projects, focused on the removal of mature trees, not undergrowth. Stands that were previously suitable habitat for Mexican spotted owls and goshawks now have far too little forest cover to support these imperiled species. This photo is available for reproduction. Click here for a high resolution version. Please credit to Martos Hoffman.