For Immediate Release: August 6, 2002

Wyden Proposal Adds to Controversy and Gridlock: Conservation groups seek a different solution to forest problems

Portland, OR - A broad and geographically diverse group of forest conservation organizations issued a statement of unequivocal opposition to the recent draft of the Forest Restoration and Protection Act of 2002, authored by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Larry Craig (R-ID). Strong objections to the proposal focused on its lack of solid protection for mature and old-growth forests in western Oregon and Washington; fast-track logging in eastern Oregon, eastern Washington and Idaho; and suspension of citizen involvement and judicial review of logging plans.

"The protection of mature and old-growth forests in western Washington and Oregon must be tied to watershed restoration and community assistance," said Jasmine Minbashian, Northwest Old-Growth Campaign coordinator. "It cannot be accomplished by side-stepping federal laws and public involvement, or by sacrificing forests east of the Cascade Mountains."

In binding completely different forest management issues together in one bill, Senator Wyden's bill will guarantee additional controversy and gridlock. Conservation groups have a long advocated for protecting homes, lives and property from unnaturally large wildfires and restoring natural fire regimes on national forests east of the Cascades. But they indicated that the bill's authorization for fast-tracking timber and salvage sales would be counter-productive. Conservation groups have documented that projects termed "fuels reduction" are removing large fire-resistant trees and leaving the smaller flammable material behind.

"The Senator's approach to eastside forests is unnecessary and unproductive," said Ric Bailey of Hells Canyon Preservation Council. "We can and do work with the agencies and others to focus scarce federal dollars on saving homes and property while restoring the landscape. This bill does nothing to advance those efforts."

The groups chastised the bill's unbalanced approach of limited protection for western forests and massive logging of eastside forests. Some termed the bill's approach "political rather than scientific forestry" and expressed grave disappointment that the Senators had proposed legislation that does nothing to resolve substantive problems with national forest management.

The groups range from nationally-based watershed protection advocates to locally-based community forest advocacy groups in both eastern and western Oregon, Washington and Idaho. They share Senator Wyden's concern for old-growth forests and will proceed with legislative efforts that truly protect mature and old growth forests, clean water, and a legacy for future generations.

Contact

Jasmine Minbashian, Northwest Old-Growth Campaign, (360) 319-3111
Ric Bailey, Hells Canyon Preservation Council, (541) 963-3950
Patti Goldman, Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, (206) 343-7340
Bob Friemark, The Wilderness Society, (206) 624-6430
Andy Kerr, The Larch Company, (541) 201-0053
Paul Shively, Oregon Chapter Sierra Club, (503) 243-6656
Sybil Ackerman, Audubon Society of Portland, (503) 292-6855, ex. 110
Deanna Spooner, Pacific Rivers Council, (510) 345-0119
Karen Coulter, Blue Mountain Biodiversity Project, (541) 385-9167
Stephanie Parent, Pacific Environmental Advocacy Center, (503) 768-6736
John McCarthy, Idaho Conservation League, (208) 345-6933
Chuck Pezeshki, Clearwater Biodiversity Project, (509) 335-7662
Ron Mitchell, Idaho Sporting Congress, (208) 336-7222
Mike Petersen, The Lands Council, (509) 838-4912
Tim Coleman, Kettle Range Conservation Group, (509) 755-2667
Sam Mace, National Trout Unlimited, (360) 608-4814
Roger Singer, Northern Rockies Chapter Sierra Club, (208) 384-1023
Kaz Thea, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, (208) 726-5293

The Northwest Old-growth Campaign is a coalition of conservation groups that includes American Land Alliance, Bark, Biodiversity Northwest, Black Hills Audubon Society, Cascadia Wildlands Project, Forest Ethics, Gifford Pinchot Task Force, Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, Northwest Ecosystem Alliance, Oregon Natural Resources Council, Oregon Sierra Club, Siskiyou Project, and Umpqua Watersheds.

See www.nwoldgrowth.org for member group contact information and other details.