Just recently the Bureau of Land Management director, Jim Caswell, gave the keynote speech regarding the Western Oregon Plan Revisions at a logging convention organized by Associated Oregon Loggers Inc. As a member of OSPIRG and the Keep it Wild campaign director at the University of Oregon. I find this very disturbing. We have invited the BLM to every WOPR forum, including the forum taking place at the University on Jan. 29, at 6 p.m. in the Walnut room. The BLM tossed aside our offer, claiming they had nothing left to say.
Yet, at the logging convention, Jim Caswell had a lot to say. He stated that some of the old rules of the Northwest Forest Plan would no longer apply to Western Oregon including watershed assessments, surveys of plants and animals before an area is logged, and upper management review of decisions made at the regional level. This will lead to water pollution, degraded habitat, and increased conflict and controversy. If the WOPR goes through, it will increase logging in Oregon by 700 percent. Shockingly, the proposal ignores the role that these forests play in regulating the climate. Most Americans want federal land managers to embrace thinning second-growth forests, safeguard communities from wildfire and to protect what remains of our nation’s ancient forests. In contrast, the WOPR proposes to inflame the controversy by increasing old-growth clear-cutting for a short-term economic fix. The WOPR puts water quality at risk and would destroy some of Oregon’s most special places.
OSPIRG has been working continuously to raise public awareness about the WOPR. In addition, we are asking Senator Wyden and Congressman DeFazio to use their power and take a strong stand against the WOPR. On Friday, March 7 there will be a Walk Against WOPR. More information about this event will be available in the upcoming months. We should protect our remaining mature and old-growth forests on public land, not clear-cut these natural treasures.
Carly Barnicle
University student