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Proposed Wilderness Threatened by Private Logging
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 8 2003
PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE FOR MEDIA
Contact KS Wild: George Sexton, 541-488-5789
Shannon Clery, 541-482-1417
Fruit Growers Supply (FGS) of Hilt, California, a subsidiary of Sunkist Corp., intends to log a 240-acre in-holding of high elevation old growth forest in the heart of the Condrey Mountain Inventoried Roadless Area, an area proposed for Wilderness. They have an approved Timber Harvesting Plan with the California Department of Forestry and the Rogue River National Forest (RRNF) just last month announced the process to approve construction of a helicopter landing pad on the Forest.
This remote spot represents some of the most pristine old growth forests in the Klamath-Siskiyou Ecoregion, know as one of the most diverse temperate forests worldwide by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
"Besides high tree diversity, steep slopes harbor some of the largest incense cedars in the world - over 7 feet across - and Pacific silver fir, which is rare in California," says Shannon Clery, a graduate student researching the area. Both are marked for cut by FGS. "The parcel is part of the largest intact area of old-growth forest in the 25,000 acre Elliott Creek watershed, providing habitat for threatened Northern spotted owls and far ranging forest carnivores such as Pacific fisher, marten, and wolverine," concluded Clery.
The parcel is about 1/4-mile from the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and is surrounded by land included in recent Wilderness legislation introduced by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) as potential additions to the Red Buttes Wilderness Area. This portion of the Siskiyou Crest is widely recognized as one of the most essential plant and wildlife corridors in the Pacific Northwest, linking coastal mountain ranges with interior ranges such as the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades. Additionally, the lands surrounding the parcel were set aside as Late Successional Reserve under the Northwest Forest Plan, where public acquisition is a priority.
Race for a Buyer
For nearly five years the RRNF has known about the threats of the FGS parcel, recognized its excellent wildlife habitat qualities and unique tree species and claimed its acquisition a priority. FGS is a willing seller but the Forest Service has failed to work an arrangement to purchase the area into the public domain or even appraise its value.
Failure to do so has likely been due to lack of congressional sponsorship. Because it is in Oregon's Elliot Creek watershed (Applegate River drainage), in Forest Service Region 6 (Washington and Oregon), yet over the border in California, the parcel lies in a "political no mans land." Time is running out to protect this small and overlooked yet important jewel, as logging will likely move forward this summer.
# # #
PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE FOR MEDIA
Contact KS Wild: George Sexton, 541-488-5789
Shannon Clery, 541-482-1417
Fruit Growers Supply (FGS) of Hilt, California, a subsidiary of Sunkist Corp., intends to log a 240-acre in-holding of high elevation old growth forest in the heart of the Condrey Mountain Inventoried Roadless Area, an area proposed for Wilderness. They have an approved Timber Harvesting Plan with the California Department of Forestry and the Rogue River National Forest (RRNF) just last month announced the process to approve construction of a helicopter landing pad on the Forest.
This remote spot represents some of the most pristine old growth forests in the Klamath-Siskiyou Ecoregion, know as one of the most diverse temperate forests worldwide by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
"Besides high tree diversity, steep slopes harbor some of the largest incense cedars in the world - over 7 feet across - and Pacific silver fir, which is rare in California," says Shannon Clery, a graduate student researching the area. Both are marked for cut by FGS. "The parcel is part of the largest intact area of old-growth forest in the 25,000 acre Elliott Creek watershed, providing habitat for threatened Northern spotted owls and far ranging forest carnivores such as Pacific fisher, marten, and wolverine," concluded Clery.
The parcel is about 1/4-mile from the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and is surrounded by land included in recent Wilderness legislation introduced by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) as potential additions to the Red Buttes Wilderness Area. This portion of the Siskiyou Crest is widely recognized as one of the most essential plant and wildlife corridors in the Pacific Northwest, linking coastal mountain ranges with interior ranges such as the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades. Additionally, the lands surrounding the parcel were set aside as Late Successional Reserve under the Northwest Forest Plan, where public acquisition is a priority.
Race for a Buyer
For nearly five years the RRNF has known about the threats of the FGS parcel, recognized its excellent wildlife habitat qualities and unique tree species and claimed its acquisition a priority. FGS is a willing seller but the Forest Service has failed to work an arrangement to purchase the area into the public domain or even appraise its value.
Failure to do so has likely been due to lack of congressional sponsorship. Because it is in Oregon's Elliot Creek watershed (Applegate River drainage), in Forest Service Region 6 (Washington and Oregon), yet over the border in California, the parcel lies in a "political no mans land." Time is running out to protect this small and overlooked yet important jewel, as logging will likely move forward this summer.
# # #