The BLM's public comment period for its Western Oregon Plan Revisions ended in January 2008.  Thousands of comments were received but the BLM has let everyone know that it's not the numbers that matter to them.  These revisions threaten not only the 2.5 million acres of federal O&C lands but also other public and private lands in Washington, Oregon and northern California.

Click here to read the Conservation Leaders Network's comments.

You can also check out our rebuttal of the BLM's economic arguments.

Read the comments submitted collectively by organizations based throughout the Pacific Northwest.

As part of a settlement arranged between the Bush Administration, the Association of O&C Counties and the timber industry, BLM must consider one alternative that does away with all reserves on O&C lands except those required to avoid jeopardy under the Endangered Species Act (which provides the lowest level of protection).   Unfortunately, they are considering only alternatives that make timber the dominant use of these lands.

About two-thirds of BLM-managed land in western Oregon is currently within some type of reserve.  The logging that has taken place on both federal and private lands in the last decade has been allowed because the courts determined that protecting species in reserves on federal forest lands was sufficient.  If these reserves are done away with, the federal forest lands will not be providing the level of protection approvals of other timber sales on non-federal lands were predicated upon.

This will plunge the Pacific Northwest back into the timber wars of the early nineties.

“These forests are some of the richest forests in the world, and absolutely critical to fish, wildlife and the citizens that live around them and others who come to take in the spectacular beauty.  The low-elevation forests in the Western Oregon BLM region are critical connecting blocks to the largely mountainous National Forests in Oregon.  Western Oregon’s BLM forests are some of the most productive in the world. They are also extremely diverse, as they are found on three distinct mountain ranges:  the Siskiyous, the Coast Range, and the Cascades.  The forests feature ancient, coastal hemlock on the Coos Bay District, biologically rich forests on the Medford District, and towering Douglas fir forests on the Roseburg, Salem, and Eugene BLM Districts.”

Photo of Unit 5, Cow Catcher timber sale, Roseburg BLM and quote are from www.oregonheritageforests.org, the best place to get up-to-date information about the current threat facing the 2.5 million acres of publicly owned O&C lands in Oregon.

The Conservation Leaders Network is one of many groups fighting to protect these publicly-owned lands.  Because counties containing O&C lands have a unique relationship with the federal government, the Conservation Leaders Network plays an important role providing county-focused insight and building bridges between conservation groups and county commissioners.

“It appears from your [BLM's] summary that most of the comments you received oppose BLM’s plan to manage these lands for timber production as the dominant use.  Please add my voice, as a county commissioner from an O&C county, to those of the many Oregonians who recognize the value of these lands, the need for the Forest Plan and the success of the existing resource management plans. . . .

These lands have value to counties.  I want these lands to continue to produce goods and services for my county over the long run.  I support sustainable management of the O&C lands, which cannot be achieved by having timber production as the dominant use of these lands.”  Lincoln County Commissioner Bill Hall

“As you are well aware, Multnomah County is the home of close to 700,000 citizens and is the most populous county in Oregon.  I represent more owners of BLM lands than any other county in the state.  I understand you received almost 3,000 public comments during the scoping period.  In common with most of those who submitted comments during that period, my constituents do not want these lands managed for timber production as the dominant use, or existing reserves eliminated.”  Multnomah County Chair Diane Linn

“If I remember correctly, no court has ruled that BLM must allow timber harvest in old-growth reserves.  No court has ruled that BLM must allow timber harvest in riparian reserves.  No court has ruled that BLM must allow logging on every square inch of O&C lands.

It is clear from your statement that, since this [timber-as-dominant-use] interpretation supercedes other BLM interpretations, your agency has successfully managed these lands in compliance with existing laws, including the O&C Act of 1937, with other, more inclusive interpretations that respect the diversity of values Oregonians derive from O&C lands.

I urge you to reconsider this direction.”  Lane County Commissioner Pete Sorenson

To read letters from county commissioners, click here.

For the BLM's newsletter, click here.