Administration is Wise to Junk a Plan Allowing Excessive Logging
11/24/97
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Headline: Administration is Wise to Junk a Plan Allowing Excessive Logging
Source: The Los Angeles Times
Date: 11/24/97
Copyright Los Angeles Times
One for the Woodlands
Administration is wise to junk a plan allowing excessive logging
The Clinton administration has made a critical and commendable
move in deciding to junk its long-term plan for management of
10 national forests stretching more than 350 miles up and down the
Sierra Nevada. It was absolutely the correct call.
An independent study team of 11 experts found that the U.S.
Forest Service plan allowed levels of logging that were as much as
40% too high for the overall health of the environment; it also
failed to protect the habitat of the spotted owl and other
species.
The draft plan was released in 1995, but implementation was
delayed following protest by environmentalists. Interim logging
restrictions designed to protect the habitat of the spotted owl
were developed then and will remain in force while the Forest
Service starts on a new plan.
Timber interests are not pleased with the decision. But the
severe degradation of the Sierra environment has been well
documented. It is caused by logging as well as livestock grazing
and real estate development.
Selective logging is proper, especially to rid the forests of
fire hazards. But recreation has become the most important role of
the forests in California, both socially and economically. Visitor
demands will only increase in the future. In its recent decision,
the Clinton administration happily did not fail to see the forest
for the trees.