Your input could help shape a high profile forest pilot project moving forward on public lands in the Middle Applegate Watershed in southwest Oregon. Called “Pilot Joe” this 600 acre project is being advanced by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and is demonstrating the restoration principles of forest scientists Jerry Franklin and Norm Johnson. This project has been floated as a model for future forest management, so it is important that you weigh-in and speak up for bona fide restoration and not let the BLM timber managers get away with logging as usual.

Please let the BLM know that you want to see forests restored by cutting small trees from overly dense stands, while also protecting watershed and wildlife values of these public lands. We need to protect our old-growth legacy trees from logging and our clean water by removing the sources of sediment pollution. The BLM also needs to be reminded that 1) the focus should be on forests accessed from existing roads, not remote forests that require road construction 2) larger trees need to be preserved and 3) the use of stewardship contracts should be expanded. Stewardship contracts allow the BLM to keep revenues to help offset the costs of important non-commercial restoration work.

Photo Credit: University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture

Action Credit: KS Wild