60% Timber Sales Reduction Expected in Six Rivers Forest

Protection of the threatened northern spotted owl and creation of the Smith River National Recreation Area will eliminate nearly 60% of proposed timber sales next year in the Six Rivers National Forest of northwestern California.

The U.S. Forest Service also announced Wednesday that cuts in the amount of commercial timber offered for sale in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest may be even greater. Reductions in annual timber sales may be less in the Mendocino and Klamath national forests, the two others that will be affected by rules offering spotted owl protection.

Leslie Tucker, regional Forest Service spokeswoman in San Francisco, said the lowering of priorities for timber cutting throughout California reflects a new environmental direction announced earlier this year. She said it showed the desire of the Forest Service to accommodate more closely the use of forests by all.

Timber managers of the Six Rivers National Forest in Humboldt and Del Norte counties said timber sales would be cut from 112.2 million board-feet this year to a proposed 48.8 million board-feet next year.