October 27, 2008
Protect Ancient Forests and Wild Salmon
Take Action Today!
The Oregonian printed an opinion-editorial from former U.S. Congressman Les AuCoin on the BLM's Western Oregon Plan Revisions entitled, "An environmental legacy for the taking." AuCoin represented Oregon in the U.S. Congress for 18 years. The editorial reads, in part:
These towering forests are at the heart of Oregon's identity. They define our state. Our communities rely on pristine forests for clean drinking water. Ancient forest groves are some of our best places to recreate and find solace. Over the years, we have come to learn the important role our mature and old-growth forests play in providing habitat for endangered salmon and other unique species. Recent research is confirming that preserving and restoring our old-growth forests is vital to the effort to combat climate change.
The first version of the WOPR logging plan flunked scientific review and prompted almost 30,000 people to voice their concerns. Now that the plan is entering its final approval stages, the general public can no longer offer comments.
That means Kulongoski is the only man who can stand in the way of the Bush administration loosing chain saws into thousands of acres of our last remaining old-growth forests.
Past Oregon governors have handed down a legacy that we enjoy to this day. Our beaches are pristine. Our valuable farmland has been preserved. For us to one day look back proudly on the legacy of Gov. Ted Kulongoski, he must defend our forests and reject the Bush logging plan now.
Click here to read the entire opinion-editorial.
Please take action today for the forests and salmon of western Oregon!
The Final Plan outlines a destructive management strategy that will heavily impact the Siskiyou Wild Rivers Area, and we need your help. Under law, Governor Kulongoski is allowed a 60-day "consistency review" period that began last week. Governor Kulongoski is the only elected official standing between the Bush Administration and western Oregon's forests and salmon. It is imperative that the governor hears from you today! Let him know you appreciate these public lands - that you visit them, recreate in them and value them for the wildlife habitat, water and climate services they provide. If you live outside of the state, please join Oregonians in contacting Oregon's Governor and remind him that these are public forests - entrusted to the government to manage on behalf of all!
Please contact Governor Kulongoski and ask that he help protect all of Oregon’s remaining public old-growth and not promote clearcutting on our public lands. Urge him to reject the WOPR and tell the BLM to come back with a plan that moves us forward in the forest.
Governor Kulongoski
Phone: 503-378-4582
Snail mail: 160 State Capitol, 900 Court St., Salem, Oregon 97301-4047;
Email online: www.governor.state.or.us.
Sample Letter
Dear Governor Ted Kulongoski,
I am writing to express my concern with BLM’s Western Oregon Plan Revisions. The proposed plan weakens environmental protections and puts salmon, old growth ecosystems (Oregon’s carbon warehouses) and our communities at risk.
The public will not be allowed to comment on this final draft so you represent my voice and the voice of thousands more who believe this plan is a step backwards. Please reject the WOPR plan and tell the BLM that it is not in the best interest of Oregonians.
The inevitable harm from WOPR to water quality, fish habitat, climate regulation, recreation, and sustainable economic growth is the wrong direction for Oregon. Now is the time to move forward with a common sense vision for our forests that involves protecting what little mature and old growth we have left and restoring other forests degraded by past mismanagement.
Again, I urge you to reject the WOPR as a plan that will lead to divisive conflict and is not in Oregon’s best interest.
Sincerely,
Public Citizen
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