Home »

Burns Holds Hearing on National Forest Planning in December

|

On December 2, 2005, Senator Conrad Burns convened a public hearing, held at the University of Montana in Missoula, on the U.S. Forest Service’s planning processes, stating that it remains unclear to him that the Forest Service is following its multiple use mandate. The purpose of the hearing was to examine future management of national forests in Region 1, which includes national forests in Montana. Participating on a panel on Forest Service planning and management practices were: Dale Bosworth, U.S. Forest Service Chief, Chuck Keegan, associate director of the University of Montana's Bureau of Business and Economic Research, John Gatchell, conservation director for the Montana Wilderness Association, and Sherm Anderson, owner of Deerlodge-based Sun Mountain Lumber Company.

The hearing was utilized as a platform for off-road vehicle enthusiasts to voice their desire to open up more public wildlands to motorized uses. Yet, as explained during the hearing by John Gatchell, Conservation Director with Montana Wilderness Association (MWA), which has been successful in working together with a variety of different motorized recreation groups to develop winter recreation plans in places like Seeley Lake and Lincoln, the Forest Service needs to do more to demonstrate its commitment for Montana wilderness. “Today, we have 90,000-plus miles of road in our state, but only 3.7 percent of Montana is within wilderness,” said Gatchell.

During the hearing, Burns pointed to proposals by the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest to cut back on timber sales while increasing the acres it would recommend for wilderness as examples of poor forest management. Burns also questioned the national forest system’s proposed new restrictions on access for motorized recreation in its current plan revision. Sen. Burns stated that he views national forests as a renewable resource that should be harvested on a regular basis. “I don't think it's any different than a field of Iowa corn or a grass field in eastern Montana,” he said, adding, “It doesn't make any sense to lose more of that crop every year to beetle kill or wildfire than what's harvested.”

Burns’ statements ignore the scores of benefits provided by our national forests, such as: clean water, abundant wildlife, blue ribbon trout streams and unparalleled hunting opportunities. Poll after poll of Montana citizens demonstrate the public’s desire to protect Montana’s remaining wildlands and important wildlife habitat – areas that draw thousands of visitors to the state every year.

Taking Action: Please contact Senator Burns and ask him to explain his stance on public land management. Ask him to protect Montana’s precious forests and wildlife - which don’t simply grow back like a corn crop!

For More Information/Organizations Working on This Issue:

» email this page