Save Oregon's Ancient Forests

To: Bureau of Land Management, Western Oregon Plan Revisions Office, Members of U.S. Congress Bureau of Land Management, Western Oregon Plan Revisions Office
333 SW 1st. Avenue, Portland, OR 97208

CC: Members of the U.S. Congress

Re: BLM Western Oregon Plan Revisions
Dear BLM,
We are very concerned with the direction the Bush Administration is headed with the management of nearly 2.6 million acres of federal forests under the Western Oregon Plan Revisions (WOPR). The changes the Bureau of Land Management is contemplating will unravel the protections of the landmark Northwest Forest Plan, and will lead to water pollution, degraded habitat, and increased conflict and controversy.
Your current proposal is unacceptable. The agency proposes to increase old-growth logging on public lands in western Oregon by 700%, build 1,000 miles of new logging road in the next decade and clearcut at a 9-1 ratio to thinning. This is a myopic and backwards proposal that depletes our natural resource base for future generations by weakening protections for forests, creeks and salmon. Shockingly, the proposal ignores the role that these forests play in regulating the climate. It is absurd that you propose such a dramatic logging plan and literally ignore the relationship that such action will have on our changing climate.
Most Americans want federal land managers to embrace thinning second growth forests, safeguard communities from wildfire and protect what remains of our nation%u2019s ancient forests. By focusing on previously logged public forestlands - many of which are now overgrown and in need of thinning - we can provide wood to local mills while actually improving conditions for fish and wildlife and keeping saws out of precious old-growth forests.

In contrast, the WOPR proposes to inflame the controversy by increasing old-growth clearcutting for a short-term economic fix. The WOPR puts water quality at risk and would destroy some of America's little remaining old-growth forests. We should protect our remaining mature and old-growth forests on public land, not clearcut these natural treasures.

It is disappointing that at a time when public consensus for old-growth protection and second-growth thinning has never been stronger, the BLM is proposing to clearcut forests older than our nation and turn complex ecosystems into tree plantations most susceptible to severe wildfire.
Please protect remaining old-growth forests, focus active management of BLM lands in already logged-over areas, and create job opportunities in restoration forestry that would benefit watersheds and generate some wood products. Let's restore what we have already damaged rather than multiply past mistakes. You are managing these lands for all Americans, and future generations deserve a living legacy.

If you, as the agency that oversees these public assets, do not protect the public's remaining old-growth, we implore Congress to step up and enact legislation that once and for all protects all remaining old-growth on public lands.