A firestorm over fireproofing Program to thin Sierra's forests has environmentalists crying foul

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 12/8/4 | Glen Martin

[SmithL]

A controversial Bush administration plan that will triple the timber harvest in the Sierra as a means of fireproofing the region's national forests now appears locked in, with opinions ranging widely and fiercely about its likely effects on the ground.

The Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment -- the brainchild of Bush administration appointee Jack Blackwell, the U.S. Forest Service regional forester for California -- supersedes the Sierra Nevada Framework, a Clinton- era scheme fully implemented in 2001 that emphasized ecological restoration and halted most logging throughout the Sierra's 11 national forests and one special management area.

Blackwell's amendment has been the working model for the Sierra's national forests since January, but until it was officially affirmed by forest service chief Dale Bosworth in November, it was not considered a permanent plan.

At this point, the only way that the amendment can be altered is through a "discretionary review" by Mark Rey, the undersecretary of natural resources and environment for the U.S. Department of the Interior. But such a move is extremely unlikely; Rey has a Dec. 15 deadline to initiate a review and has not signaled any such inclination.

Environmentalists generally were enraged by Blackwell's plan.

[SmithL]

Ecoterrorists would rather see a forest burn than see a human make money on the wood.

[BenLurkin]

Kooks.

[.38sw]

You took the words out of my mouth. A few years ago, I heard a member of an environmental group chastising the forest service for using *gasp* timber companies to accomplish the necessary thinning. The evil profit motive means that we can't trust the companies to accomplish the goal. Somebody might make a buck! Can't have that. The solution, it seems, is for the Forest Service to hire people to do any necessary thinning. I didn't hear any proposal for what to do with the timber that had been removed. Probably wanted it to be piled and burned, because it certainly couldn't be sold to a company that might use it for something, and make a dollar.

[.38sw]

But environmentalists have balked at the logging of the bigger trees, saying they are sufficiently large to be considered old growth.

And as we all know, old growth trees are holy objects to be preserved and worshipped.

[Sacajaweau]

Not just "Let them Burn"....but let them kill the animals, destroy homes and human lives.

We have a huge asset in these forests.....and it is a renewable source. Not using these assets defies logic.

I go back to my old statement: "God made nothing in nature for the sheer sake of beauty". That's what the stars are for....to observe and admire a magnificent system".

[Prime Choice]

Ah, how I remember the outcome of the last eco-nutjob opposition to forest thinning...

[randog]

I can understand the enviros' position on this. The drive up the Sierras on I-80 from Reno is a lovely view of burned-out, fire-ravaged, eroding hills caused by years of uncontrollable forest fires.

[Thud]

Breathing has environmentalists claiming foul.

So does everything else, because whatever is going on at the moment is always a handy vehicle for raising money. This applies to almost all the big non-profit organizations - the National Rifle Association, AARP, the NAACP, Planned Parenthood, etc.

[.45MAN]

Let the Environmentalists tie themselves to the old trees!! Ya that's the ticket let them tie themselved to the trees during hunting season.....

[NRA2BFree]

Environmentalists generally were enraged by Blackwell's plan.

Do they think home owners and businesses who were burned to the ground aren't enraged? Fires have burned more trees due to ridiculous environ_MENTAL policies, than would have been cut and sold in the first place. Not to mention all the additional trees that were cut down to rebuild the structures that were burned down. These wackos are real nut cases.

[drc43]

The forests WILL be thinned. We can participate or nature will do it for us.

[taxed2death]

hehehee....you know? These peeps REALLY are weird.


"Arent trees kinda like....real big grass....ummmmmmm....(hit off of my bong).....you know dddduuuuuudddeeee....we should therefore defend every blade of grass on every lawn across the US....yea...(exhales...then takes another hit).....we should protest John Deere, Toro, Black and Decker and Craftsmen lawnmower makers as mass murderers of grass.....Kewel!"


/sarcasm off

[Bigh4u2]

Tree size has nothing to do with age.

There are many trees that mature very early!

Many different types of pines reach full maturity in 20 to 30 years.

That sure doesn't make them 'old growth'.

[wildbill]

Has anyone ever considered logging wide firebreaks through the woods in some kind of scientifically planned pattern?

Wouldn't this answer two problems at once?

[.38sw]

I think that approach is being tried on some of the Quincy Library Group Forests (Quincy library group refers to a group of citizens who met at the local library to try to arrive at some common ground on forest management issues). That has become controversial because there is at least one group that has sued the Forest Service over it's environmental assessment documents. they claim that the FS is not being truthful about the amount of herbicides that may be used in the future to keep the firebreaks clear of brush and weeds. They're fear is that there will have to be herbicides used, and there are organized, vocal groups that are adamantly against the use of any herbicides. CATS (Californians Against Toxics) is one such group.

Go here: HFQLG Pilot Project if you want to read more about the project.

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[editor-surveyor]

"Let the Environmentalists tie themselves to the old trees!!"

Yes, let them tie themselves to the top, just before the chainsaw clears it's throat :o)

[Issaquahking]

AZFIRE.ORG

We need to organize against the radical green by doing small groups...F.A.R.M. the group (there were approximately a dozen, consisting of various members of the community, fighting for a common goal) that Barb Martin headed at the Klamath Falls water crisis, to fight the feds over the water issue with started out with her and one other person, but look how it grew!!! Her and Carmen Bear (both great AMERICAN PATRIOTS)..sure it ended in federal court....and I would call it a victory for her.

here is a link exposing the goofs and their real agenda.

The indians despise the enviro-whacks too!

If you want more information, go here.