Feds Propose Logging Millions of Acres in Oregon: Urgent Update

UPDATE: Federal officials have just announced a controversial plan to open millions of acres of forests in western Oregon for logging at levels not seen since the 1960s. The Bureau of Land Management revealed that it will propose updates to the Western Oregon Resource Management Plans, which govern logging and conservation on 2.5 million acres across 17 counties, initiating a month-long public comment period that concludes on March 23, 2024.

This urgent move, aligned with former President Donald Trump‘s priorities, seeks to significantly increase timber production. Currently, about three-quarters of these federal lands, known as O&C lands, are protected from regular logging. The new proposal could revert logging to levels exceeding 1 billion board feet annually—more than ten times current harvest levels—raising alarms among conservationists and local communities.

Acting director of the Bureau, Bill Groffy, asserts, “Bringing timber production back to historic levels is essential for reviving local economies and reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfires.” However, environmental advocates warn that this plan risks devastating ecosystems.

“Returning to a logging strategy that nearly drove species like the northern spotted owl and the marbled murrelet to extinction is reckless,” said Chandra LeGue, an advocate with the nonprofit group Oregon Wild. “The public does not want to go back to the days of rampant old-growth clearcutting. These are treasured public lands, and we’re going to fight for them.”

This announcement follows President Trump’s executive order, labeled “Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production,” which proposed using the Endangered Species Act Committee, known as the “God Squad,” to bypass protections for endangered species obstructing logging efforts. This committee, rarely utilized since its inception in 1978, holds significant power over the fate of endangered species.

In response to the Bureau’s announcement, Travis Joseph, president of the American Forest Resource Council, praised the initiative, claiming it will manage overstocked forests and reduce wildfire risks. “Bureau of Land Management lands in western Oregon continue to grow significantly more timber each year than is harvested,” he stated.

However, critics like forest scientist Bev Law of Oregon State University, emphasize the ecological importance of these forests. “These forests are the most effective carbon-storing forests in the world. The plan to return to such high harvest levels is insanity,” she warned, highlighting the environmental stakes involved.

As the public comment period begins, the potential implications of this proposal are profound. Environmentalists and local residents are gearing up for a significant fight against the proposed logging levels, which could lead to irreversible damage to these vital ecosystems.

What happens next is critical. With no public meetings scheduled before the proposal release, the community’s opportunity to voice concerns may be limited. Observers are watching closely as the Bureau of Land Management moves forward, anticipating both public outcry and political maneuvering.

Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as it unfolds, impacting both local economies and environmental policies. This is a pivotal moment for Oregon’s forests and the future of conservation in America.