Logging blocked by activists in Williamette NF

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owner-cascadia [owner-cascadia]OnBehalf Of Cascadia Forest AllianceWednesday, November 13, 2002 1:40 PMoregoneclCc: cascadiaSubject: Logging blocked by activists in Willamette NF. ===== A message from the 'cascadia' discussion list =====FYI: From the desk of the Cascadia Forest Defenders...FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 13, 2002 Contact: Rachel Kingston, Cascadia Forest Defenders 541-684-8977Illegal Old-growth Logging Blocked by ActivistsForest Service Fails to Protect Known Red Tree Vole NestsEugene, OR- For two consecutive days, old-growth forest advocates have halted logging crews attempting to cut the illegal East Devil timber sale, located 15 miles east of Oakridge. Despite confirmed reports of protected species in the area, the logging has been occurring for nearly two weeks.Citizen surveys have shown that the trees in East Devil support rare red tree voles, an arboreal rodent that lives its entire life in the canopy. Citizens were shocked that the Forest Service sanctioned logging here, a blatant violation of the Survey and Manage guidelines of the Northwest Forest Plan. "It is clear that the Forest Service is simply refusing to do its duty to protect the fragile nesting areas of red-tree voles," says Karen McFarline of the Eugene-based Cascadia Forest Defenders. "The agency needs to get with the 21st century and protect this sensitive old-growth habitat."Forest defenders point out this is not the first time the Forest Service has tried to manipulate the survey system to aid logging operations. In 1999, a Survey and Manage lawsuit filed by the Oregon Natural Resources Council forced the Forest Service to conduct mandated surveys for red tree voles and a host of other sensitive species associated with old-growth forests that were required by law. Citizens at the Clark timber sale, the site of a 4 year-old tree sit, turned in data to the Forest Service which reduced the sale from its original 96 acres to 29 acres with their findings. Now, Dallas Emch, the Willamette National Forest Supervisor, has created a new policy to not accept citizen surveys in violation of the Survey and Manage Guidelines."The agency is making up new rules as they go, playing Russian roulette with these rare and endemic species associated with old-growth forests," says Rachel Kingston of the Cascadia Forest Defenders. Forest defenders will not relax their efforts in canceling this sale until the Forest Service acknowledges the presence of red tree voles and notifies Roseburg Forest Products, the purchaser of the sale, to cease operations.A media tour of the illegal logging operation will leave the Growers Market (454 Willamette St.) today at 1:00pm. Contact the Cascadia Forest Defenders for more information, interviews and photos."Live in peace with the animals. Animals bring love to our hearts, and warmth to our souls."

Colleen Klaum

"He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." Immanuel Kant

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