Obama administration green lights logging in Tongass National Forest
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack gave his personal approval for a 381-acre clear-cut in America's largest stand of temperate rain forest.
Thu, Jul 16 2009 at 11:43 AM EST
16
Photo: Not cool, President Obama. Not cool at all.
The Obama administration has approved the sale of timber from the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. The 17-million acre forest is the largest stand of continuous temperate rain forest in the U.S. and contains a lot of old-growth trees. It's basically a snapshot of what the world looked like before we rolled heavy onto the scene.
The U.S. Forest Service gave the green light for the sale after approval from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack who stated in May that he would be the final gatekeeper on all decisions to sell timber from roadless ares of the national forests.
This first sale will come after seven miles of roads are built for the 381-acre clear-cut. This makes Hulk mad. Vilsack said that the main reason he approved the sale was to provide jobs to the area. Here's a radical idea -- those loggers should get new jobs not involving cutting down old-growth trees.
Jobs should not trump mountains, nor should they trump the last great stand of old-growth temperate rain forest left in this great nation of ours. Instead of spending the millions of dollars the federal government intends to pour into road construction to clear cut the area, how about giving the loggers job buyouts so they can find a new career with some scratch in their pockets?
You can donate money to the NRDC to help the fight to keep Tongass safe if you want to get active with your pocketbook.
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Comments
Enter your name
11/18/2011 16:59 PM
I would rather have the taxes that I pay go towards something with an end result than to pay for people to be on welfare. your points are ridiculous
Guest
07/20/2010 21:26 PM
Did I not read something right? I believe the plan is to cut down 381 acres of a 17,000,000 acre tract of forest land. You would not even be able to notice the difference after replanting. I am in the logging industry and most of this gov't approved cutting is for gov't projects. As for the people who say loggers are stupid or dumb, take a look around at your nice office or your overpriced home and realize just how many things come from wood. I'll help you, from parts in every appliance, to the.... More
mark Jay C. Fairall
03/13/2010 19:46 PM
Enter your comments here There is no reason to use wood anymore PERIOD! Obama stands for "ONE BIG *** MISTAKE AMERICA"! Stripping old growth forest for some uneducated jackasses because they are too stupid to learn how to file for unemployment "IS" ONE BIG *** MISTAKE! WE have the technology to replace any thing that is made with "WOOD"! Telephone poles, Framing for housing,furniture,hockey sticks, on and on,etc...etc....I've seen how stupid those "loggers" are on the History Channel and it.... More
Anonymous
11/18/2011 16:50 PM
Do you realize how much more harmful it is to the environment to mine what it takes to replace wood? Sure loggers may not be the most educated people in America, but i'd like to see how long you would last in a log yard. Do you really think that the solution to logging is destroying other peoples property?
Guest
03/28/2010 23:41 PM
ya, the toxic byproducts created in the manufacturing process in creating these "wood" replacers is much better for the earth then harvesting something that will regrow.
Guest
07/27/2009 16:56 PM
There is often a lot of talk from politicians about pork spending, especially Republicans (though it's usually for not spending on what they want – but it isn't like Democrats aren't the same way) but it has hit a new low, with Clougherty Packing LLC. Clougherty Packing LLC is a meat packing company that prepares processed ham products, and they got just a shade over $5 million in stimulus money – that's some pork barrel spending, literally! That's some big unsecured loans for ham. Obama.... More
The Jason
07/20/2009 15:20 PM
...WORSE than the old boss.
Am I the only person not surprised? Obama surely received something from the logging industry to approve this mistake. Even BUSH didn't approve this sort of thing.
Here's the real 'change' Obama talked about. Enjoy.
Anonymous
07/20/2009 13:21 PM
I lived in southeast for four years and have sailed the entire inside passage. If there is one thing I learned during my time in in Southeast is that logging is king, at least it used to be. Many of the cuts I have seen are fifty years old or older and look as though they where cut last week. The temperate forest of Tongass is not as resilient as its southern cousin. Sure replanting helps but you can't replace an old growth forest which, is prime habitat for many of the species in the.... More
VJ
07/19/2009 23:26 PM
It's called "balance" people. Get a clue. Learn the facts about the Tongass before you go crying to Mama Earth. Mama is responsible herself for the loss of thousands of acres of forestland every year to disease, windblow, and other natural causes. The key is to learn how to find a good balance. Maybe you should try living in a village in Southeast Alaska, where rural Alaska Native unemployment is as high as 90 percent. Cutting small parcels of trees provides jobs, and allows these.... More
cuttinspam
07/16/2009 22:05 PM
So to keep these loggers in business, we have to cut down acreage, which attracts more loggers, who need more acreage to cut, which attracts more loggers..... I voted for Obama, but I wont make that mistake again. Kucinich... I dont care anymore if he wins or not.
Snuhwolf
07/16/2009 17:54 PM
This will just add to the backlog of wood-based resource already cut and laying around in lumber mills, unsold. The housing industry is bust and wont be needing this wood for years. Yet again Obama betrays the NetRoots who elected him.
Anonymous
07/16/2009 16:02 PM
I have traveled all over the world and have actually been to the Tongass National Forest. It was by far one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I have ever been. It saddens me that the reason we are willing to cut down a piece of this beautiful part of the country (.002 percent or not) is for jobs that could be created through other means. Allowing such destruction contributes to climate change and creates a precedence for similar decisions.
Anonymous
07/16/2009 14:54 PM
It is unfortunate this story is riddled with rhetoric not based on facts. I am willing to bet that picture isn't even from the 381 acres, and the timber being harvested is not "old-growth." In fact, 381 acres only represents .002 percent of the Tongass Forest. And, guess what, the plan calls for replanting.
signifier
07/17/2009 05:20 AM
Old growth tends to be favored by logging companies because the trees are large and present the biggest bang for the buck. Replanting generally encourages more logging because the trees are planted for the purposes of future logging, usually in straight rows that are maintained to allow easy access. Also, it is important to remember that replanted trees do not make a forest. Forests are highly diverse, comprising many species. Typical forestry practice involves monoculture replanting techniques.... More
Anonymous
07/16/2009 14:27 PM
I wish people were more adamant to organize movements and campaigns against stuff like this.
I believe Obama is malleable in his policies. If people are vocal enough about their opinions, he will relent. Not to sound cheesy and unrealistic, but people need to "rise up" and not take "no" for an answer. The president isn't going to organize for us, after all. We have to pressure him to do it.
Anonymous
07/30/2009 20:35 PM
There is a good way to stop this and that is to bring the hear on the people that Obama put in place. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack can put the Roadless Rule into place and protect wild forests in the Tongass. Send him an e-mail at Tom.Vilsack@usda.gov and says "STOP logging the wild Tongass Forest!"
