Obama administration green lights logging in Tongass National Forest
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Comments(11)
Posted By The Jason - Mon, Jul 20 2009 at 3:20 PM ESTMeet the new boss...
...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.
Posted By Anonymous - Mon, Jul 20 2009 at 1:21 PM ESTNo more old growth cuts!
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
Posted By VJ - Sun, Jul 19 2009 at 11:26 PM ESTDisappointing Indeed
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
Posted By cuttinspam - Thu, Jul 16 2009 at 10:05 PM ESTAnother Obama disappointment
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.
Posted By Snuhwolf - Thu, Jul 16 2009 at 5:54 PM ESTFaux Economy
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.
Posted By Anonymous - Thu, Jul 16 2009 at 4:02 PM ESTSaddened
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.
Posted By Anonymous - Thu, Jul 16 2009 at 2:54 PM ESTTrees grow back
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.
Posted By signifier - Fri, Jul 17 2009 at 5:20 AM ESTyes, but trees aren't forests
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
Posted By Anonymous - Thu, Jul 16 2009 at 2:27 PM ESTDisappointing
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.
Posted By Anonymous - Thu, Jul 30 2009 at 8:35 PM ESTTake some action
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!"



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