National Forest Protection Alliance Convention Comes to Siskiyou Wild Rivers Area

Threats to Ancient Forests and Roadless Wildlands from Biscuit Logging Plan a Major
Focus of Weekend Gathering of 150 Citizen Forest Activists from Around the Country

For more information:
Jeanette Russell, National Forest Protection Alliance or Matthew Koehler, Native Forest Network 406.396.0321

CAVE JUNCTION, OREGON - Over a hundred citizen forest activists from Oregon and around the country will be coming to the Siskiyou Wild Rivers area this weekend for the National Forest Protection Alliance's 6th Annual National Convention to build upon a vision for protecting and restoring of America's National Forests. The Convention will be held October 1st to 3rd at Sis-Q Meadows in one of the most ecologically important forests on the planet and home to the Biscuit Logging Plan, the largest proposed logging project in U.S. Forest Service history.

The National Convention will conclude on Monday, October 4th when hundreds will gather for a noontime rally at the Siskiyou National Forest office in Grants Pass to make ancient forest logging history and stop the Biscuit Logging Project. Prior to Monday's rally, hundreds of citizens will be conducting door to door outreach in Grants Pass to talk and listen to community members about the Biscuit Logging Project and provide information.

The Siskiyou Wild Rivers Area of southwestern Oregon is on the chopping block with the largest logging project in U.S. history! The so-called Biscuit "Fire Recovery Project" would cut down 19,000 acres of ancient forest reserves and roadless wildlands in one of the most ecologically diverse forests in the world!

"While the Siskiyou Wild Rivers area is home to treasured wildlands, world-class biodiversity and a unique landscape it's unfortunately also home to the extreme Biscuit Logging Plan, which threatens to destroy 19,000 acres of ancient forests and roadless wildlands," explained Jeanette Russell, grassroots coordinator with the National Forest Protection Alliance, a national coalition of 130 groups working to protect and restore America's National Forests.

"We're holding our National Convention in the Siskiyous to shine a spotlight on the fact that logging of ancient forests and roadless wildlands is completely unacceptable to the vast majority of the American public. NFPA and our member groups view the Biscuit Logging Plan as one of the best examples of just how out-of-touch the Bush Administration's forest policies are with the values of the American public."

The National Forest Protection Alliance National Convention is co-sponsored by: Klamath Siskiyou Wildlands Center, O2 Collective, Siskiyou Project, Umpqua Watersheds, Friends of Rouge-Kalmiopsis, Headwaters, Bark, Oregon Wildlife Federation, Protecting and Restoring Oregon Wildlands, Northwest Old Growth Campaign, Native Forest Network, Defenders of the Black Hills, The Lands Council, Kentucky Heartwood, Sequoia ForestKeeper, Klamath Forest Alliance, American Lands Alliance, WildPlaces Ecological Restoration & Education, Heartwood and the Sierra Club Redwood Chapter.