🚀 go-pugleaf

LOGGING WITHOUT LAWS BULLETIN #94, from WAFC, the
Western Ancient Forest Campaign.  Call (202)789-2844x291 or email
WAFCDC@igc.apc.org by Britney Bartlett, WAFC Media Intern
 
Wednesday, July 10, 1996, the 348th Day of Lawless Logging
 
CHURCH STANDS FOR ANCIENT FORESTS:  The United
Methodist Church Northern Illinois Conference came out in support
of the intrinsic values of Ancient Forests and the need to protect
them from the "Timber Rider".  The Conference passed a resolution
calling for a repeal of the rider, as well as protesting the loophole
that allows the unregulated cutting of healthy Old Growth under
the guise of 'salvage', and the suspension of environmental laws. 
One section of the resolution reads, "Be It Resolved that the
Northern Illinois Conference support the protection of this
endangered, unique and irreplaceable habitat as an endowment of
unparalleled value and quality in the Creation."
 
JONTZ TO SPEAK AT SIERRA CONFERENCE:  The Sierra Nevada
Alliance will host "Taking Our Sierra Seriously: Strategies for Living
in the Watershed" a conference at June Lake in California, July 12-
13.  Some workshops include community building and the media's
role, how to handle water restoration and growth issues, and
critiqueing the Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project Report findings. 
WAFC's own Jim Jontz will speak Saturday about the status of
Forest Campaigns.  For registry information call (916) 542-4546.  
 
THUNDER MT. "SALVAGE" SPARKS CONTROVERSY:  The
whirling cry of the chainsaw will soon sound in the fire-scorched
forest of Thunder Mountain (Okanogan National Forest), the largest
unprotected roadless area in Washington state.  The 70,000 acre
Long Swamp Roadless Area, is prime habitat for grizzly bear,
wolverine, lynx and other rare species.  Pat Rassmusen, of the
Leavenworth Audubon Adopt-a-Forest, notified WAFC that proposed
logging is within the Chewuch River Watershed, a designated "Key
Watershed" according to the Northwest Forest Plan.  Previous
logging and roadbuilding in the area have already degraded the
condition of the watershed, according to the "Chewuch River
Watershed Analysis".  The logging of Thunder Mt. will pose a
direct threat to spring chinook and bull trout spawning habitat.  The
Forest Service proposes to build a 1/2 mile of new road to provide
access to 3.5 mmbf of timber on 275 acres.  Rassmusen says this is
contradictory to their own evidence that roads and logging will
harm Thunder Mt.'s high elevation forests, open meadows, lynx
and other uncommon plant and wildlife.  Because the burnt timber
is worth less money, "the FS is allowing heavy logging equipment
to operate over the area's fragile high elevation soils on up to 35%
slopes," Rassmusen said.  The Forest Service will allow the
purchaser to remove any desirable merchantable timber from logging
units, without having to leave  minimum numbers and dimensions
of down logs for soil productivity and wildlife habitat.  For more
information about the sale, and a sign on protest letter to Okanogan
National Forest Supervisor, Sam Gehr, call Rassmusen at (509) 997-
9470. 
 
WAFC has an abbreviated factsheet from the Sierra Nevada Ecosystem
Project Final Report to Congress, vol. I.  This excellent report has useful
findings about salvage logging and fire, as well as facts on animals,
watersheds, jobs, Ancient Forests and more.  For a copy of our
factsheet, call WAFC, (202) 789-2844 ext. 294, for a copy of the
report contact Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project, (916) 752-8070 or
check it out on the web at: http://www.ceres.ca.gov/snep