The COP26 convention in Glasgow made clear the urgency of the preservation of our ancient forests as important reservoirs for carbon sequestration if we are to meet our climate goals. Our Pacific Northwest forests are among the highest forest carbon reservoirs in the world, especially the older and largest trees.
Therefore the proposed Flat Country Timber Sale, which would harvest 74,063 acres, is a travesty. Fewer than 10 percent of our legacy forests remain, and it is time to stop the destruction of our few remaining old growth forests. We will not meet our climate goals unless we do.
We recently read Norm Johnson and Jerry Franklin’s story map about the sale, in which they refute the reasons offered by the Forest Service to justify the massive cut and discuss the many reasons the preservation of these forests is so important, especially since there is so little remaining. Both helped develop the Northwest Forest Plan and have 100 years of collective experience in the conservation and management of federal forests in Oregon.
At the conclusion, they offer suggestions that would be more productive options for the Forest Service to pursue:
“The Willamette National Forest should continue to focus its harvest on the thousands of acres of older plantations. The plantations are highly unnatural forest ecosystems established during the last 80 years; they lack the structural complexity, species richness and many functional capabilities of naturally developed young forests. Carefully crafted thinning can produce timber volume and improve structural and compositional diversity.”
Ernie and Marietta O’Byrne
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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