Conservation Groups Challenge BLM SW Oregon Old-Growth Timber Sale
November 19, 2024
Medford, Oregon
For Immediate Release
Today forest conservation organizations filed a legal challenge in Medford federal district court challenging the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) latest old-growth timber sale located in the Cascade foothills east of the community of Sunny Valley, Oregon.
The aptly-named “Last Chance” timber sale targets old-growth forests for logging on BLM lands known as Late Successional Reserves, Riparian Reserves and the Harvest Land Base. Most of the timber sale units would remove the old-growth forest canopy down to less than 30% effectively destroying the existing wildlife habitat while increasing fire hazard throughout the project area.
“The Medford BLM does not care about wildlife, wildfires or watersheds,” said George Sexton, Conservation Director for KS Wild. “They care about only one thing and that is meeting their arbitrary old-growth logging timber targets.”
The Last Chance timber sale authorizes 8,420 acres of logging activities including 1,297 acres of streamside logging in riparian reserves, and the construction of 28 miles of new logging roads.
“Most Oregonians believe that these remaining old-growth forests are worth more standing,” said John Persell, Oregon Wild Staff Attorney. “They are fire-resilient, they are soaking up carbon, and they represent our irreplaceable natural heritage.”
While the Medford BLM’s neighbors in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest have largely moved away from old-growth logging and towards small-diameter fuels reduction, the BLM remains mired in controversy and contention.
“It’s time for the Medford BLM to work with conservation groups to reduce rather than increase fire hazard,” said Nick Cady, Cascadia Wildlands Legal Director. “The BLM’s relentless old growth logging agenda isn’t doing its neighbors any favors.”
KS Wild, Cascadia Wildlands and Oregon Wild are represented by Meriel Darzen and Oliver Stiefel of the Crag Law Center