Some of Oregon’s stateliest groves of trees – ancient, old growth forests owned by the American public – are moving toward the chopping block.  In a sweetheart deal for the timber industry, the Bush administration is threatening to drop protections for a public heritage and a legacy our children deserve.

It’s not the National Park Service or the U.S. Forest Service that manages these forests; it’s the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), an arm of the U.S. Department of Interior.

The BLM administers 2.6 million acres (close to 5,000 square miles) of forested land in western Oregon.  Much of this BLM land consists of low-elevation forests, in contrast to the mountainous acreage found in the surrounding National Forests.  BLM forests in western Oregon contain many key watersheds for salmon recovery, recreational havens, and numerous logged over lands. They are also home to nearly 1 million acres of the remaining ancient, old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest.

Managing Our
Forest Treasures
For the last ten years, these lands have been managed under the Northwest Forest Plan, adopted to correct the mistakes of the past and ensure these forests continue to provide these important public values. These forests can also provide jobs and wood products as a by-product of forest restoration such as thinning young forests that have grown thick since being clearcut over the last 10-80 years.

The BLM is now embarked on a plan to remove protection for old-growth and streamside forests on these public lands. These proposed changes to the Northwest Forest Plan will increase logging of mature and old-growth forest and lead to water pollution, degraded habitat, and likely increased conflict and controversy.  The elimination of forest, stream, soil and wildlife protections could diminish the enjoyment of these forests.

Sweetheart Settlement
In 2003, the Bush administration reached a settlement with the timber industry requiring the BLM in western Oregon to begin a process of removing protections such as old-growth reserves and other land allocations that protect rare plants and animals.  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.

Ecologically Critical
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. Portions of all of these districts have been heavily cut over, but some still have considerable older forest habitat.  Currently, the Eugene District and much of the Salem District primarily thin young stands, but all districts occasionally plan aggressive logging projects in older forests.

Get Involved
The BLM began "scoping" in the summer of 2005. An Environmental Impact Statement is expected out in early 2007.  If you are concerned about the impacts this plan would have on fish, wildlife, or your future recreation, you should let BLM know how you feel. The agency is beginning its management plan revision and needs to hear from you.

Click here to send the BLM a message asking for strong environmental protections on BLM land.

Click here to learn more about BLM Districts in western Oregon.

Click here to learn about the Community Conservation Alternative for BLM's Western Oregon Plan Revisions.