(Blue paint = log it | Photo courtesy of Oregon Wild)
Oregon Wild just learned that the Forest Service is pushing ahead with a controversial plan to log some of the last remaining old-growth trees in the popular Phil’s trail area (right next to the trail). During the planning of this logging the public was told that it wouldn’t include cutting of old-growth trees. But now at the last minute before the chainsaws and bulldozers arrive we’ve learned it will. The rationale is fuels reduction but these old trees have the thickest bark and are thus the most fire-resistant — showing it’s not really about fuels reduction but about logging. These old trees are the most fire resistant, provide the best wildlife habitat and store the most carbon.
Oregon Wild will start circulating this petition asking the Deschutes National Forest to stop logging old-growth trees.
Additional background here.
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