Contact: Joshua Davis, Sierra Club, 612-659-9124
Groups Urge U.S. Forest Service to "Do Better"
Conservationists say future of forests must emphasize land protection
Minneapolis - Conservation groups today urged the U.S. Forest Service to "do better" and abandon plans that would increase logging and motorized recreation on the Superior and Chippewa National Forests, arguing that greater emphasis should be placed on protecting these dwindling wild lands. The groups made their claims as part of the public comment period on the proposed management plans for both Minnesota forests.
"The U.S. Forest Service proposal permits too much logging, too much motorized recreation, and not enough conservation in the Superior and Chippewa National Forests," said Susan Solterman, policy director of Minnesota Audubon. "It is deeply troubling that the Forest Service considers revenue generation more important than resource protection."
Once approved, the 15-year management plans will guide everything from habitat preservation and recreation, to timber sales on the two national forests. The US Forest Service will consider public comments on the plans until September 11.
Conservationists say the Forest Service can do a better job of protecting public lands. The groups fault the plans for promoting off-highway vehicle and motorboat recreation at the expense of land and water protection. The management plans offer no strategy for addressing the likely harm to be caused by an influx of such activity.
"Biological diversity is the greatest asset of our national forests, and therefore these areas should not be managed like tree farms," said Lois Norrgard, organizer for American Lands Alliance. "The Forest Service's plan pays lip service to this diversity and delays the recovery of some of the most vital forest habitat for the lynx, wolf, eagle and other raptors, and migratory songbirds."
Environmentalists praised the agency for recognizing that forests should return to the look and composition of almost 100 years ago, when there was greater balance between the various trees in the areas now known as Superior and Chippewa National Forests. The commitment falls short though, as the Forest Service plan fails to restore the areas' former natural diversity.
"If we hope to have a healthier forest, one that is more resistant to disease and fire, then the Forest Service must restore the proportion of tree types," said Matt Norton, Forestry Advocate for the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. "This plan shows no commitment to making our forests healthy and vibrant for the long haul."
Conservationists also criticized the agency for failing to recommend greater protection of roadless areas in the forests. While Superior National Forest had no land recommended for wilderness, the preferred plan for Wisconsin national forests includes 15,000 acres of wilderness. A study released in June noted that almost 90,000 acres in Superior National Forest are suitable for wilderness designation.
"With the demand to recreate in wild places like the Boundary Waters, one would expect the Forest Service to recommend some federal land as wilderness," said Melissa Lindsay, executive director of Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness.
But the agency ignored its own studies showing growing demand for wildland recreation and protection. "Recreation has a much bigger economic impact than logging," said Clyde Hanson, Sierra Club North Star Chapter Conservation Chair. "We expect the final plan will add a full and fair economic analysis."
Environmental groups solicited thousands of substantive comments from the public during the period ending today. They hope that these remarks will shape the Forest Service's final plans, which should be released next year. The federal agency last revised management plans for Superior and Chippewa National Forests in 1986.
For more information and to submit comments, go to Minnesota Sierra Club Forests Campaign or to Superior National Forest.