And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release Jan. 28, 1999 contact: Larry McLaud, 208-882-1010; mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Chuck Pezeshki 208-835-2999 Laird Lucas, 208-342-7024 Ancient Forests Disappearing on the Clearwater National Forest Less than 10 percent of the ancient forests remain in the Clearwater National Forest and its own regulations require it to stop logging old growth trees, according to a new analysis from conservation groups. After decades of logging, the Clearwater does not have 10 percent of its 1.8 million acres remaining in old growth stands, which is required by its management plan, conservationists found in a recent analysis of forest data. Current proposed timber sales would add to the decline. As part of a larger lawsuit challenging Clearwater forest management, a coalition of conservation groups filed a brief in court earlier in the month to stop logging of old growth. The analysis found only 7 to 9 percent of the forest remains as old growth. "The importance of the old growth habitat can not be overstated to maintain whole ecosystems and we need to protect what's left, not continue to cut it down," said Larry McLaud, of the Idaho Conservation League. The recent and historic liquidation of old growth trees on the Clearwater eliminated habitat for lynx, pine martens, woodpeckers, goshawks and other wildlife. The lawsuit seeks to stop logging in old growth, until field verification can determine if old growth stands exist in excess of the 10 percent requirement. Among the proposed projects that would be stopped or postponed are Fish Bate, White Pine, Winchester, and North Lochsa Face. The proposed Fish Bate sale, on the North Fork of the Clearwater River northeast of Orofino, would eliminate 888 acres of old growth, according to National Forest documents. "The Forest Service has a duty to maintain viable populations of native species in the forest and to insure viable populations are maintained, habitat must be provided to support a minimum number of reproductive individuals," said Chuck Pezeshki, of the Clearwater Biodiversity Project. Need for old growth on public land managed by the Forest Service is especially important because private and state land are not managed to protect old growth and little old growth remains except on federal public land. The coalition of conservation groups include Idaho Conservation League, Friends of the Clearwater, Clearwater Biodiversity Project, The Wilderness Society, Idaho Rivers United, The Ecology Center, The Lands Council, Land and Water Fund of the Rockies. Background Associated plants such as the clustered lady slipper rely on old growth habitat for their survival. Other plants such as lady fern, maidenhair fern, pacific yew, and red alder are connected to the complex old growth ecosystems. As much as 2/3 of the carbon stored in an old growth forest is in the soil and roots. The deep rich soil is imperative to a healthy forest. Dworshack Dam, completed in the 1970's flooded much low elevation inland rainforest that was once old growth cedar. There are many definitions of old growth, which reflects the complexity of the ecosystem. The Clearwater Forest Plan defines old growth as: 1. 15 or more live trees per acre. 2. One or more snags per 2 acres over 21 inches d.b.h. 3. Two or more canopy levels, heart rot and other signs of stand decadence. 4. Overstory canopy closure of 10-40 percent. 5. Usually with a definite shrub-sapling layer of at least 15 feet tall with a canopy closure of over 40 percent. 6. With understory and overstory canopy combined, exceeding 70 percent. 7. With significant coarse woody debris, including snags (> 10/AC over 20 feet) and downed logs (> 20 tons/AC and snag and logs) (minimum 4/AC) that are large (> 21 dbh) and > 50 feet long. 8. Live tree component of various species with wide range in sizes and age including long-lived seral dominants. More than 10 live trees/AC that are either old or have become large (> 21 dbh). Ancient forests on the Clearwater include many tree species including western red cedar, ponderosa pine, douglas fir, western hemlock, grand fir, and western larch. Many of the remaining ancient trees are along streams and provide shade to streams that help moderate water temperatures in the hot summer months, which benefits all salmonids, including the threatened species of bull trout, steelhead, and chinook salmon. ##### ************************************************************************ 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/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
