The Eugene Register-Guard continues its high-quality coverage of forest issues with today’s op-ed by Jeremy Hall of Oregon Natural Resources Council (ONRC). He makes the case that logging on federal land can be a good thing.
ONRC wants chainsaws to stay out of roadless areas and old growth stands, but thinks they do belong in dense even-aged plantation stands where thinning may actually benefit forest ecosystems. ONRC’s position is far from accepted conventional wisdom among environmental groups, but today’s article is a concise and cogent statement of their position.
As a reader of this blog pointed out, small-stem trees may not always be as merchantable as bigger old growth. So one way to encourage more thinning and less clearcutting (especially of old growth) is to promote green building and forest certification standards that prize conscientious cutting and small diameter logs.
