Oregon Senator Ron Wyden wants to expedite logging for one of his home state’s chief industries – timber. Ore. Senator’s Bill Would Thin Forests : Wyden said he was particularly interested in developing collaborative processes to identify objections early on, so they can be addressed without ending up in court. This while the timber industry…
Barrasso bill targets beetle kill. By Brodie Farquhar. Casper Star-Tribune correspondent. Whatever his motives, logging has never stopped any of the current beetle kill which is taking place all over the Rocky Mountains. That’s because beetles are not the ultimate cause; it’s the warming climate. The winters are no longer cold enough to kill beetle…
Federal Lands Recreational Enhancement Act (FLREA) was passed in the dark of night in 2004. It has become known to its opponents as the Recreation Access [to public lands] tax, or “the RAT,” for helping us remember it. By “dark of the night,” I mean it was added to the omnibus appropriations bill with no…
Wow! the legal kickback on the Bush Administration’s lack of attention to the laws is coming fast and furious. Two days ago, it was the big sage grouse case (which impacts way more than this beautiful upland game bird). Now is it his administration’s misnamed “Healthy Forests Initiative. Story. Associated Press. Appeals Court Blocks Bush…
Story by John Cramer. Missoulian. One of keys to restoring the elk population in the upper Clearwater may be removing unneeded and “bleeding” logging roads than killing native bears, cougar and wolves.
There is no doubt, the hoopla surrounding ID Senator Larry Craig is a well deserved condemnation of hypocrisy that’s been years in the coming and nobody is celebrating his descent more than progressives throughout the Northwest. Now, he has resigned effective September 30. But the shamefull manner in which a powerful Republican Senator squandered his…
George Wuerthner, who wrote the essay below, is the editor of Wildfire: A Century of Failed Forest Policy published by Island Press. He has 33 other books on natural history and ecological topics. This essay is a reflection on the current fire season compared to the past and what should be done. Wildfires in the…
2007 fire conditions are off the charts Officials are finding it difficult to predict fire behavior because this year’s data don’t fit any model. Experts say climate change is a big part of this season’s extremes. By Rocky Barker, Idaho Statesman. Busy Week for Fires in Northern Rockies. Record-Breaking Fire Season? New West. By David…