As you are probably aware, there are several Ancient Forest protection bills now being considered in Congress. Unfortunately, none of them are designed to protect all remaining Ancient Forests. However, bills have been introduced in both the House and the Senate which would protect "significant" Ancient Forests in Oregon, California and Washington. Washington's senator, Brock Adams, has introduced SB 1536, the "Pacific Northwest Forest Community Recovery and Ecosystem Conservation Act." SB 1536 would protect most "significant" Ancient Forests immediately and put many of the rest in watershed study areas for 3 to 5 years.
There are three very positive aspects to the Adams bill: (1) A new objective is set for the management of federal lands - management by watershed and ecosystem for preservation and restoration of biological diversity. (2) The bill includes the beginnings of a creative package of economic provisions that (a) discourages log exports and (b) provides job opportunities in rehab and restoration of ecosystems. (3) As a senator from Washington state, Adams has the political credibility needed to move his bill through the Congress.
On the House side of Congress, "The Ancient Forest Protection Act" (HR 842), introduced by Rep. Jim Jonz (D-IN) would also protect most Ancient Forests in the three west coast states, but it does not have the important economic provisions of the Adams bill.
The Adams bill is a good framework for forest protection, but the actual boundaries of protected areas will be decided as the bill moves through Congress. The bill calls for protection of "significant" Ancient Forest, yet "significant" is in danger of being defined politically rather than scientifically. With so much of the Ancient Forests already gone, all ancient and intact native forests are biologically significant. We also need to go further and ask for legislation that will halt the destruction of forest ecosystems in national forests outside of California, Oregon and Washington. It is equally important to protect the forests in Illinois, Vermont, Texas, and the Rocky Mountain states!
Following is a summary of all of the Federal Ancient Forest Legislation now being considered. Things are changing rapidly with these bills as they begin to move through Congress. Stay in touch with the MEC for updates.
Rep. Jim Jontz's (D-IN) bill would designate a National Ancient Forest Reserve System to protect significant ancient forest stands on federal lands in Washington, Oregon and California, and would prohibit logging and road building within these areas. The Act would also create a network of "associated forests" to connect patches of ancient forest so that wildlife dependent on old growth can migrate and reproduce. A panel of experts would be formed to study ancient forests and make recommendations to ensure the perpetuation of the ancient forest ecosystem.
S 1536 Pacific Northwest Community Recovery and Ecosystem Conservation Act
Sen. Brock Adam's (D-WA) newly introduced bill is our first strong support from the Senate in dealing with the public forest crisis in a comprehensive way. This act calls for programs for worker adjustment assistance, community economic diversification, export dis-incentives, tax incentives for reforestation, and forest ecosystem conservation. It focuses on maintenance and restoration of the integrity of our forest ecosystems, with special emphasis on watershed and salmon habitat protection. It will also enable our communities to make the inevitable transition away from overcutting.
Bills Opposing Below Cost Sales And Clearcutting On Public Lands
HR 2501 National Forest Timber Sales Cost Recovery Act
Rep. Jim Jontz (D-IN) This bill would amend the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) to prohibit below-cost timber sales. The bill requires a phase out period of five years, after which the Forest Service could not sell timber if the sale does not cover the expected federal costs for making the timber available.
It would also provide for the identification of lands where timber receipts are not expected to cover costs, the revision of forest plans to reflect changes in the suitable timber base, and transitional economic assistance to communities dependent on below-cost timber from National Forests.
HR 1969 Forest Biodiversity and Clearcutting Prohibition Act
Sponsored by Rep. John Bryant (D-TX), it would ban clearcutting on all federal lands, including the Forest Service, BLM, USFWS, Army Corps of Engineers, and BIA, and requires the agencies to maintain native biodiversity. The bill would seek to replace even-age logging with selection management to maintain timber jobs.
The timber industry also put forward bills in May: the "Forest and Families Protection Act of 1991" (HR 2463) sponsored by Rep. Jerry Huckaby (D-LA) in the House and the "Federal lands and Families Protection Act" (S. 1156) sponsored by Sen. Bob Packwood (R-OR) in the Senate. These bills would mandate unsustainable timber harvest levels, weaken the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the National Forest Management Act, restrict citizen access to the courts, override Endangered Species Act protection for timber production, and create an inadequate system of Ancient Forest Reserves. Futhermore, Rep. Peter Defazio (D-OR) and Rep. Les AuCoin(D-OR) have unfortunately endorsed two bills that would temporarily repeal key environmental laws.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2004
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