Portland, OR—Forest industry leaders commented today on the significance of a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack from 59 members of Congress whose districts include over 3⁄4 of the 193 million acres of national forest and grass lands. The members of Congress are expressing concern over a Proposed Forest Planning Rule first issued in February […]
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New spotted owl plan would hurt rural economy and ignore real solutions, forestry groups say
The new spotted owl recovery plan written by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is being rushed to completion without taking into account the best science for how the owl can be saved, a coalition of forestry groups said today. Instead, the recovery plan would hurt forest owners and the rural economy by tying up […]
Labor and Lumber Associations Sue US Fish and Wildlife Service Over Illegal Advisory Group Meetings
A western lumber producers’ group has joined the Carpenters Industrial Council in suing the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service alleging that the agency conducted secret meetings over the last 2 years as it has worked to rewrite the 2008 northern spotted owl recovery plan and critical habitat designation.
Treat the Forests – Save our Communities
There is a new momentum building across the West that is taking many forms, but has a common theme: —“Treat the Forests and Save our Communities.” The impetus is coming from rural Americans who have been played like pawns in a chess game over how the federal forests surrounding their communities are being managed. The […]
Time Extension by FWS Insufficient
The timber industry is expressing frustration over today’s announcement by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that the comment period on its Northern Spotted Owl Draft Revised Recovery Plan will not be extended beyond December 15. The original comment deadline was next Monday, November 15.
Draft Spotted Owl Recovery Plan: Another Obama Administration Plan Devoid of Reality
Today, the Obama Administration released a revised Northern Spotted Owl Recovery Plan.
Obama Administration Forest Report an Insult to Oregon
Today, the Obama Administration is expected to release the findings of the Western Oregon Task Force. The Task Force, a special interdisciplinary team, was announced by Interior Secretary Salazar on October 14, 2009 following the Administration’s decision to scrap the Western Oregon Plan Revisions (WOPR).
One year after WOPR withdrawal, Southwest Oregon clearly a sacrifice zone for Obama Administration
Portland, Or – July 16 marks the one year anniversary of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and the Obama Administration’s withdrawal of the Bureau of Land Management’s Western Oregon Plan Revisions (WOPR). The six plans, adopted December 30, 2008, provided a template for managing Oregon’s 2.1 million acre O&C lands. If managed for responsible, sustained timber […]
Beyond the spotted owl: It’s time for a new approach in our federal forests
The Oregonian’s recent article commemorating the 20th anniversary of the listing of the northern spotted owl on the endangered species list exposed the personal, largely hidden agendas of those who have advocated for the owl over the years.