Old Growth Going Down
By Kelpie Wilson
Rolf Skar: The logging of old-growth legacy trees is happening right now in the "Briggs Cedar" logging sale near Squaw Mountain in the Siskiyou. Designated as "matrix" lands under the Northwest Forest Plan, these areas have few safeguards to shield them from logging. The Forest Service has ignored some protections for streams and is logging big trees they originally marked as wildlife trees at Briggs Cedar.
Unfortunately, this is not a surprise. We have seen lots of violations in the Biscuit logging that has occurred so far - everything from logging of trees within the protected Kalmiopsis Wilderness, a blatant violation of federal law, to logging on top of sensitive streams. All told, there has been 37 million board feet of destructive logging in Biscuit-fire affected forests - a sum greater than the "prescribed annual cut" of the entire Siskiyou National Forest.
(pic)
A considerable amount of post-fire logging has already taken place in the Siskiyou. Old-growth legacy trees, critical for wildlife, salmon and forest health, are targeted by post-fire logging.That's Rolf Skar on the left.
(Photo: Rolf Skar)
Kelpie Wilson: Most of the environmental groups working on this issue have not been opposed to all salvage logging, is that correct?
Rolf Skar: As I mentioned, a lot of rather destructive post-fire logging has already occurred. Some concerned citizens and grassroots groups have elected to challenge the entire Biscuit logging project, arguing that it is fundamentally flawed. The Siskiyou Project, along with a coalition of our allies, has made the difficult choice to allow some logging, in a good-faith effort to gain greater protections for prioritized areas - old-growth reserves and roadless forests - and build trust between our groups and the Forest Service. Unfortunately, we have not seen similar good-will from the Forest Service. Instead, they seem to be intent on breaking, bending and ducking the rules to push a log-at-any-cost agenda. It is a disappointment.
Kelpie Wilson: What are the ecological reasons against salvage logging in those priority areas?
Rolf Skar: First, the Siskiyou Wild Rivers area is simply too important, economically and ecologically, to sacrifice to short-sighted, subsidized logging. This is a place that boasts the largest unprotected roadless forests in Oregon, the most National Wild and Scenic Rivers of any like-sized area in the country, is a remarkable sanctuary for wild salmon and trout, and host to some of the most diverse temperate conifer forests in the world.
Second, after a fire is one of the worst times to log. This is just common sense. After a fire, a forest ecosystem is more sensitive because it has just gone through a rather significant disturbance. If you pile on industrial logging after a fire, the deleterious effects you normally get from logging are exaggerated and increased. Erosion is worse. Damage to soils is worse. Natural rejuvenation is stunted. The risk of spread of invasive weeds and diseases is higher. Post-fire logging can also increase fire-risk by leaving behind flammable logging debris called "slash," like kindling, all over the ground.
In addition, post-fire logging targets the big old-growth legacy trees - what scientists call "snags." When an old-growth tree is finally killed by fire, it starts a second life, providing a rich source of food, and homes to wildlife. After many years when they fall to the ground, legacy trees restore needed nutrients to the soil and provide habitat to animals on the forest floor. When legacy trees tumble into streams and rivers, they provide critical habitat for wild salmon. Scientists say that old-growth legacy trees, per tree, may be more important than the live old-growth trees around them because they are less common and because of the unique, long-term role they play in the health of our natural forests.
(pic)
A wintry view of a fire-affected old-growth reserve near Fiddler Mountain now imminently threatened by Biscuit logging.
(Photo: Rolf Skar)
Kelpie Wilson: I hear that local residents are most upset about the logging that is slated to start soon outside of Cave Junction. Why?
Rolf Skar: First, this extreme logging scheme would saw through places well-loved and used by local folks. The Babyfoot Lake/Fiddler Mountain area is a favorite destination for day hikes, bird-watching, and hunting. It's a spectacular place where people can see flowers that exist nowhere else on earth.
Second, the road that leads to this area, the T.J. Howell Memorial Drive, is a key resource for the area's growing tourism and recreation industry. Logging all along the T.J. Howell Memorial Drive and the scenic landscape around it is going to hurt the long-term economic health of the local community. An economic study has shown that the permanent protection of the Siskiyou Wild Rivers area would create more jobs than anachronistic, heavily subsidized logging ever would.
Third, this community, which lives with the threat of fire every summer, has seen the Forest Service spend agency resources and taxpayer dollars - some $6 million so far - on the logging of old-growth reserves and roadless forests while doing nothing to improve the fire safety in the area. The Forest Service is literally fiddling with backcountry logging while homes burn in town. I think local folks resent that.
Kelpie Wilson: Please tell me more about that economic study.
Rolf Skar: A study completed by an independent economic firm in 2000 found that, like many rural areas in Oregon, communities surrounding the Siskiyou Wild Rivers area are in economic transition. For better or for worse, changing economics nationally and globally are shifting many economies that previously relied on resource extraction to economies that make use of natural resources in a different way. Tourism, recreation, and a quality of life based on a clean, healthy environment will be much a much more powerful engine for job creation and economic growth than old-fashioned logging. The study predicted that a protected Siskiyou Wild Rivers area could help aide that transition, and create many more jobs than would be displaced in the logging industry.
A more recent study has shown that the Biscuit logging project is sure to be a big money loser. Estimates range from 20 to 30 million or more wasted taxpayer dollars if the entire project is carried out. It is probably not a surprise to most to hear that the government, in this case the Forest Service, has used seriously flawed "fuzzy math" to help justify this massive logging project. The agency said they would sell trees from Biscuit at an average of $500 per thousand board feet of timber. Yet, even some of the so-called "economic emergency" logging sales they have offered for bid to private corporations have gone without a single bid. Most logging sales have been auctioned for a single, minimum bid price. To date, the average bid price is much lower - $76 per thousand board feet at my last calculation - than the government's questionable accounting promised. One sale sold for about $15 per thousand board feet. That is enough to fill a logging truck for $75. You can hardly get firewood that cheap!
(pic)
The Wild & Scenic Illinois River running clean through a beautiful fire-affected landscape.
(Photo: Rolf Skar)
Kelpie Wilson: So why did the 9th Circuit court lift its injunction?
Rolf Skar: The ruling was brief, and without much substance. Personally, I believe the rotating court panel made this unfortunate ruling because it was unaware of the irreparable damage that this logging may cause between now and when our court case will be heard. It is important for people to understand that the court panel did not rule that this proposed logging of old-growth reserves is legal. In fact, it never entertained that question. So, potentially illegal logging may be carried out before our scheduled court case is heard. This would, of course, make judicial review pointless, because no judge can make logged trees stand again.
Kelpie Wilson: What do you think the timber industry hopes to get out of this battle?
Rolf Skar: Quite frankly, I think the logging industry is more interested in setting damaging precedent in our National Forests than logging trees in the Siskiyou. The massive Biscuit logging project is concentrated on sawing into old-growth reserves and roadless forests - two types of sensitive forests that are normally protected from logging. Big logging companies, working closely with allies in the Bush Forest Service, are using fire as a smokescreen to log these forests. They want to show that whenever a roadless forest or old-growth reserve burns, they can help themselves to a taxpayer-subsidized logging free-for-all. It is a brilliant strategy, because most forests in the American West were born in fire - and they will burn again some day as part of a balanced cycle of life, death and rejuvenation that's been taking place for millennia.
In this way, Biscuit is more than just the biggest logging project in the modern history of our National Forests; it is a fight over who will control the fate of our last, best public forests.
Kelpie Wilson: Now that the injunction has been lifted and the logging operation is gearing up, what are people doing about it?
Rolf Skar: Since we can no longer rely on the courts to ensure illegal logging does not occur, we are looking for leadership from elected officials. In particular, we're asking that Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, Congressman Peter DeFazio, and Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski publicly ask the Forest Service not to permit controversial old-growth reserve logging until full judicial review can happen. Hundreds of people have made phone calls, sent emails, letters and faxes in the last few days. We are hopeful this will convince Senator Wyden in particular to take a stand on this important issue.
In addition, we are organizing a family-friendly "Rally to Protect the Wild Siskiyou" this Saturday at 10:00 in Selma, Oregon, in which we'll have music, inspiring speakers, and concerned citizens from across the region gathered to take a strong stand for our wild forests. I expect there will be more events, rallies and demonstrations in the future - for as long as they are necessary - to protect the Siskiyou Wild Rivers area.
Kelpie Wilson: What can people who live far away do to help?
Rolf Skar: First, it is important for folks across the country to remember that the Siskiyou Wild Rivers area is federal land that belongs equally to all Americans. No one in Minnesota, New York or Louisiana should feel that their opinion does not matter. They have just as much ownership to the Siskiyou National Forest as someone here in Oregon. Because they own this land, they have a responsibility to let their elected officials know how they think these lands should be managed. The best calls to make right now are to contact the following Forest Service officials listed below and ask them to:
1. Not allow the logging of old-growth reserves in the Siskiyou until full judicial review can be completed.
2. Protect the entire Siskiyou Wild Rivers area as a National Conservation Area.
Regional Forester Linda Goodman
phone: (503) 808-2200
fax: (503) 808-2210
email: lgoodman@fs.fed.us
Rogue/Siskiyou National Forest Supervisor Scott Conroy
(541) 858-2210
fax: (541) 858-2205
sconroy@fs.fed.us
People from all over the nation can also go to the Siskiyou Project website to send an instant fax to Oregon's elected officials, learn more about the Biscuit logging threat, and support our efforts with much-needed financial contributions: www.siskiyou.org.
Kelpie Wilson: Thank you Rolf. And thanks for the pictures we've posted here. It's a beautiful place you are working to protect.
* * * * * * * * * * *
----- Original Message -----
From: Bellringer
To: sconroy@fs.fed.us
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2005 8:51 PM
Subject: Environmental Protection
FROM: Patrick H. Bellringer
TO: Scott Conroy, Rogue/Siskiyou National Forest Supervisor
DATE: February 3, 2005
SUBJECT: Environmental Protection
Dear Scott Conroy:
Do not allow the logging of old growth reserves in the Siskiyou until full judicial review can be completed. I order you to protect the entire Siskiyou Wild Rivers area as a National Conservation Area.
If you fail to do this you shall be held accountable under NESARA (National Economic Security and Reformation Act) , which is to be implemented this month. Failure to protect the environment under your jurisdiction and authority for prosperity and the well-being of the American people, shall result in your immediate removal from office and prosecution to the full extent of the law.
I am acting in your behalf under my authority in Space Command and orders from The Galactic Federation.
Sincerely,
Patrick H. Bellringer
* * * * * * * *
----- Original Message -----
From: Bellringer
To: lgoodman@fs.fed.us
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2005 8:51 PM
Subject: Environmental Protection
FROM: Patrick H. Bellringer
TO: Linda Goodman, Regional Forester
DATE: February 3, 2005
SUBJECT: Environmental Protection
Dear Linda Goodman:
Do not allow the logging of old growth reserves in the Siskiyou until full judicial review can be completed. I order you to protect the entire Siskiyou Wild Rivers area as a National Conversation Area.
If you fail to do this you shall be held accountable under NESARA (National Economic Security and Reformation Act) , which is to be implemented this month. Failure to protect the environment under your jurisdiction and authority for prosperity and the well-being of the American people, shall result in your immediate removal from office and prosecution to the full extent of the law.
I am acting in your behalf under my authority in Space Command and orders from The Galactic Federation.
Sincerely,
Patrick H. Bellringer
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