Conservation Update
By Janice Reid….
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Monitoring the conservation of our wildlife and wild areas is a full-time job. Most of us probably think that once a species is on the Endangered Species Act list, federal agencies are required to protect it — and no harm will be brought to that species by the employees of the United States charged with protecting our natural resources and safeguarding our wildlife heritage; that we can rest easy, knowing they are protecting federal lands and having the public’s best interest in mind. This, however, is not the case. A massive timber sale is in the final stages of being sanctioned by the various federal agencies we employ, and while some agencies work hard to try and limit harm, others put a salary ahead of doing what is right. A significant majority of Americans — 84 percent — support the protection of oldgrowth forests on federal public lands, as found in a 2021 poll conducted by Data for Progress and The Wilderness Society. This high level of support spans across political affiliations, with both Democrats and Republicans showing strong support for conservation efforts. These findings suggest widespread recognition of the ecological and environmental importance of preserving our ancient forests. In that same poll, 76 percent of Americans agreed clear-cut logging should not be allowed on federal public lands. Such a strong opposition to clear cutting reflects growing concern over the environmental impacts of such practices, including habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity. Blue and Gold Harvest Plan At Umpqua Watersheds, we receive notifications of federal actions within our watershed and we spend the time to provide
feedback as is required for Environmental Assessments. A recent EA of a Roseburg Bureau of Land Management Blue and Gold Harvest Plan proposed six alternatives, including a “no action” alternative for the timber sale. Thousands of acres of marbled murrelet habitat are included in the plan and at risk for loss. Also There are a handful of federal employees making consequential decisions that will impact our world forever. This should not be taken lightly. An adult marbled murrelet swims near Bandon’s Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge in 2007. Forests are the lungs of our world, but the nature of alternative public and private ownership impairs our ecosystem’s full functionality. US Department of the Interior Bureau of the Land Management included are nearly 30 miles of new road construction and about 100 miles of road reconstruction. Several federal employees work on the EA, and do so at the direction of their supervisors. We respect their efforts to put forth a solid document steeped in facts, careful analysis and transparency. We expect these employees to operate with the highest degree of integrity. Truth is our utmost ally; knowledge is essential to proper decision making; profit, however, is still a driving force behind resource extraction, and corporations see any impediments to extraction solely as a loss of revenue. Throughout my career, I have known of private companies that hid data on endangered species from regulatory agencies so they could continue their destructive practices. We hold our public agencies to a higher standard, and expect transparency and ethics to be the highest goal. Agency employees work for the public. It is not always possible to know whether there are secretive endangered species such as the spotted owl and marbled murrelet in a planning area, but one should err on the side of caution to avoid negatively impacting these species. How to voice your concern The 1937 O&C Act that drives the BLM’s timber targets in our region is antiquated and not reflective of the planet’s current climate crisis. There are a handful of federal employees making consequential decisions that will impact our world forever. This should not be taken lightly. If you are motivated and concerned about these decisions, write to the local BLM office managers; write to the BLM state director in Portland; write to the secretary of interior and your senators. Tell them the value of retaining the older forests in the landscape and that our wildlife, watershed and ecosystems deserve careful consideration and protection.