Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Six reason's the BLM WOPR won't work

There's a great guest column in the Register-Guard today laying out six reasons why the BLM WOPR won't relieve Oregon county funding woes. Here is a summary of the six reasons:

1. Timber prices have fallen by as much as 50% since 2005 thanks to the mortgage crisis.
2. Because of public opposition to old-growth logging, the BLM is unlikely to meet its goals.
3. The market for old growth is limited since most Oregon sawmills have retooled for smaller trees obtained from thinning.
4. BLM’s proposed increased harvests will depress timber prices further.
5. Clear cuts and narrower stream buffers threaten wildlife and the values that draw people to live in Western Oregon.
6. U.S. taxpayers spend more than $40 million each year to recover Willamette and Coast Range steelhead and salmon stocks, which the BLM plan threatens. Each wild fish caught is worth an estimated $200 to sportsmen.

The BLM comment period on the WOPR wraps up January 11.

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