Revolt in the Woods:

Effective cutbacks in National Forest logging began in the late 1980s with efforts in the Pacific
Northwest to protect the last seven percent of America’s native forests.  Conservationists used
the results of scientific research conducted during the 1970s and 1980s to argue in the courts, in
Congress and in the media that the native forests must be saved for their wildlife and salmon, for
the pure drinking water that flowed front their headwater streams, fort he trees that anchored soil
and streambanks and for their irreplaceable genetic legacy.  Litigation focused on providing
enough habitat to maintain viable populations of the northern spotted owl, wild salmon and the
marbled murrelet.  Thousands of Americans participated in acts of civil disobedience to draw
attention to the destruction of some of the last stands of ancient forest in the nation.

Recently, the limitations of science in resolving contentious issues of public policy have been shown in the unfilled promises of President Clinton to preserve a significant remnant of virgin forests for future generations, the environmental backlash unleashed by the Republican led 104th Congress on behalf of its corporate constituents and the passage of the “salvage” rider, a law that ordered logging to proceed in the most vital forest sanctuaries regardless of whether or not environmental laws were obeyed.

Zero-Cut, the effort to end logging on public lands, is fast becoming the most promising strategy for forest protection in the U.S.  While summing up their goal in a simple phrase, Aero-Cut proponents have developed a sophisticated analysis of the ecological, economic, and social costs of public lands logging, and of the benefits and opportunities that would follow an end to such practices.

In 1997, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) and Congressman Jim Leach (R-IA)
responded to the public’s call for an end to public land logging by introducing the National Forest
Protection and Restoration Act (NFPRA).  Intended to save taxpayer money, reduce the deficit,
cut corporate welfare, and protect and restore America’s natural heritage, the Act eliminates the
commercial logging program on feral public lands and assists communities dependent on this
program with economic recovery and diversification.

Source: Hirt, Paul, A Conspiracy of Optimism: Management of National Forest since World War
II, University of Nebraska Press, 1994.

 
NATIONAL FOREST COUNCIL
541-688-2600

SIERRA CLUB
202-547-1141

JOHN MUIR PROJECT
626-792-0109

HEARTWOOD
812-337-8898

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