Lop Off Forest Giveaways
In its rush to pass a giant federal spending bill, Congress is within an inch of overturning years of national forest protection without debate or public consideration. Doing the bidding of the Alaskan timber industry is Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Working behind the scenes, Stevens attached several add-ons to the bill that would win him big hugs from the industry if his congressional colleagues were inattentive or irresponsible enough to let them ride.
Fortunately, protests from moderate Democrats, Republicans and environmentalists appeared to force congressional leaders to pare back at least one of the blatant forest giveaways at the last moment. Even so, it’s a bad bill and Congress should fix it.
The major provision dropped was an exemption of 14 million acres of Alaskan forest from a road-building ban imposed by the Clinton administration. It also would have allowed the cutting of enough of the Tongass National Forest to meet “market demand.” The latest proposal reportedly would allow the cutting of 150 million board feet from the Tongass -- still more than double the 20-year average cut.
Worse yet, the bill still contains a broader proposal to let the U.S. Forest Service sign “stewardship” contracts that would allow logging companies nationwide to help manage the forests and decide what trees should be cut. Such contracts now are being tried on a limited test basis, with uncertain results.
Since the days of Teddy Roosevelt, the Forest Service’s responsibility has been to manage the forests on behalf of all Americans, not to make sure the lumber mills grind out as many board feet as the world wants to buy. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) says the stewardship proposal could allow the logging of 10 million acres in California. If the riders remain in the bill, she said, “I intend to discuss them at great length on the Senate floor.” Good for her.
The forests’ last best hope rests with the House, however. A group of moderates led by Rep. Sherwood L. Boehlert (R-N.Y.) is seeking to remove the offensive riders. It deserves the support of all who don’t think timber cutters should determine the fate of the nation’s forests.