Thanks for your coverage of logging on the Willamette National Forest in “Flattening a Forest” (EW 5/13). It’s great to see prominent forest scientists like Norm Johnson and Jerry Franklin and their self-proclaimed devotee Congressman Peter DeFazio taking a stand in the ongoing and unfortunate debate about whether or not mature and old-growth public forest lands should be logged.
The article captures several reasons logging like this is so damaging, such as older forests’ importance for water, wildlife and recreation, and for mitigating climate change. And while Johnson is quoted as saying that the Flat Country project is one of the USFS’s largest in many years, unfortunately, that’s not quite true.
The forests under threat of logging here in the headwaters of the McKenzie River are, sadly, just a drop in the bucket of what’s planned and possible on our public forest lands. A recent report (bit.ly/forestclimate2021) highlighted a dozen similar logging projects in the Pacific Northwest and Southeast Alaska, and the reasons why such forests should instead be protected.
Specifically, in this moment when the global climate crisis pushes us into another year of drought, record high temperatures and a crash in biodiversity, the forests here in our backyard could be part of a natural climate solution. Instead, public agencies are doubling down on actions that ignore climate science. We need our elected officials like Rep. DeFazio to continue their vocal opposition to such logging, and to help to pivot U.S. forest management in a better direction.
Chandra LeGue
Eugene
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
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