And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
From: "Wild Rockies Alerts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Douglas Fir Beetle Project: YOUR COMMENTS NEEDED!
Idaho Panhandle National Forest Under Siege
Forest Service Taking Too Much, Moving Too Fast
An Old Song and Dance
On January 25 the Idaho Panhandle National Forests released a draft
Environmental Impact Statement outlining a massive logging project, in
response to an outbreak of Douglas fir bark beetles. In the Idaho
Panhandle and parts of the Colville National Forests, the agency plans to
remove as much as 153 million board feet of Douglas fir sawtimber this
year! The Forest Service's preferred alternative calls for over 5 thousand
acres of clearcuts and over 20 thousand acres of "selection harvest". This
intensive logging of big, old trees would be carried out on a huge road
network -- made larger with 183 miles of road reconstruction!
The Forest Service is so determined to log it has asked Chief Mike Dombeck
to declare a "forest health emergency", which would allow the Forest
Service to cut short public process and start cutting before citizen
appeals can be filed.
The Lands Council is conducting a comprehensive citizen and scientist
review of this proposal, because we believe the intensive logging planned
could cause more long-term damage to our forests than the bark beetle
outbreak. Public comments are being accepted until March 16. We ask you for
your help responding to this outlandish push to log off yet another major
component of the Inland Northwest forest: the big Douglas-fir.
BACKGROUND
In the winter of 1996/97 ice storms damaged Inland Northwest forests. Trees
broken or downed by ice and snow were susceptible to infestation by
insects, root diseases and other drivers of forest succession. Enter the
Douglas fir bark beetle: a small, native insect. After ice storms and no
fires for a long time, these little critters took advantage of the
opportunity to breed in a big way, by building egg galleries in downed
trees.
By last fall major insect activity began to show up in the woods. Standing
trees stressed by drought conditions were unable to "pitch out" the beetles
and started fading, then turned red as they succumbed to the bug. By late
autumn localized damage was extensive enough for people to see in the
Hayden Lake, Chain Lakes, Priest Lake and Pend Oreille River areas. The
Forest Service knows that logging will NOT stop bark beetles. However, the
agency claims that logging will reduce fire risk and generate money needed
for restoration work.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
An outbreak of Douglas-fir bark beetles is known to last only about 2 to 3
years. The Forest Service wants to declare an emergency to log now,
because the trees "could start to lose commercial value in as little as two
years." So this so-called "emergency" isn't really about "forest health".
It's about money.
In 1997 the IPNF lost more than $1,200.00 on every acre logged. From
1992-96 the IPNF lost over 50 million dollars on its timber sales. Dave
Wright, IPNF Supervisor, declares the bark beetle project will bring in 14
million dollars. With a track record of huge losses on logging and a
depressed timber market, it is unlikely this sale will reap profits; rather
it could cost taxpayers a bundle.
The outbreak of Douglas-fir bark beetles is a natural event, occurring in
the absence of fires.
Since 1983 200,000 acres of the IPNF have been logged off, and forest
condition continues to decline. Additional logging could seriously damage
stream systems by causing increased run-off and erosion. The Forest
Service admits that short-term sediment increases will occur upon
implementation of this project. Degraded stream systems can't withstand
additional pressure, and fish populations could suffer further setbacks if
intensive logging is done so quickly.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
* Please contact the Forest Service and voice your opinion! Send a letter
by March 16, 1999. Tell the Forest Service you want proof that logging
reduces the risk of wildfires and will actually improve forest conditions
before they take action on the ground. Ask for proof that this sale will
contribute "hard money" to restoration efforts being promised after the
trees are gone.
Douglas-fir Beetle Project
Idaho Panhandle National Forests
3815 Schreiber Way
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815
* Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.
* Spread the word!
* For further information, please contact:
TLC Forest Watch
(509)838-4912 or
Jeff Juel
The Ecology Center
(406)728-5733.
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
And thank you for your help!
***********************
Lisa Ramirez
The Lands Council
517 S. Division St.
Spokane, WA 99202
509.838.4912
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
************************************************************************
List-Subscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
News Submissions or Problems: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
This list is a public service provided by WIN: http://www.wildrockies.org
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit)
Unenh onhwa' Awayaton
http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
