PORTLAND, OR, January 23, 2004- Today the Bush Administration released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) regarding the Survey and Manage program, eliminating protection for hundreds of sensitive species associated with the region's ancient forest ecosystems. Eliminating the wildlife survey provisions will open up thousands of acres of ancient forest to industrial logging and place many already vulnerable species at risk of extinction. This approach ignores the opinions of the overwhelming majority of citizens across the state who want ancient forests permanently protected.

The Northwest Forest Plan was adopted in 1994 to protect and restore forest ecosystems, in response to decades of mismanagement and species decline. The method used to stop the alarming decline of species at issue in today's announcement is called the "Survey and Manage" program. Survey and Manage is a mitigation measure for the logging of mature and old growth allowed under the Plan, with the understanding that the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management would "look before logging" and protect the rare species located during survey efforts.

"This is just another hand-out by the Bush Administration to big business at the expense of the public and our environment," says Sandi Scheinberg, executive director of Bark in response to the release of the FEIS. "They are clearly much more interested in subsidizing the timber industry than preserving our forests," says Scheinberg. According to Bark, there are many places in the Mt. Hood National Forest that will be affected. "On the ground, this will mean that very rare old growth forests in our own back yard, places that Portlanders cherish, will be logged flat," Says Scheinberg.

Survey and Manage requires the agencies to perform surveys, but citizens have stepped in to perform surveys when the Forest Service and BLM have failed to act. Once a rare species is located, Survey and Manage requires the agencies to protect these species and their surrounding habitat.

The FEIS released today is the result of years of litigation among the federal government, conservationists, and the timber industry. In the past, environmentalists have been successful in challenging the Forest Service's and BLM's failure to adequately comply with Survey and Manage. Rather than comply with court rulings, the agencies have decided to eliminate the Survey and Manage provisions altogether.

Kim Marks, with Cascadia Rising, says the Forest Service and BLM need to get their priorities straight. "Instead of subsidizing the timber industry to the tune of $1.3 billion dollars a year, we should be protecting and restoring our legacy forests for drinking water, recreation and a diverse economy."

The FEIS, expected to be approved in 30 days, is the result of closed door negotiations between the Bush administration and the timber industry. In response, activists throughout Cascadia are planning unique and creative ways to express their concerns with the Bush Administration's attack on the region's forests.

For more background and history of "Survey and Manage," visit: http://www.bark-out.org/news/20040126/sm.htm

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ABOUT BARK:

Bark is a non-profit grassroots environmental group working to protect the forests, waters and wildlife of Mt. Hood National Forest. Currently there are 48 timber sales in the vicinity of Mt. Hood National Forest, most of which include old growth logging and clearcutting. Bark monitors and tracks all timber sales and commercial projects to ensure the Forest Service and BLM abide by environmental laws, and manage the forest in the interest of the public. In addition to challenging destructive commercial activities, Bark educates the public and engages them in public oversight of local forests through its monthly hikes, Adopt-A-Timber Sale program, and an award-winning cable access TV show, "Bark for Mt. Hood."


For information contact:

Sandi Scheinberg
Bark
503-331-0374

Kim Marks
Cascadia Rising
503-539-7471