Prepared by: Southwick Associates for the: Oregon Natural Resources Council (ONRC) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
ONRC Press Release 09/07/00: Economic Health is Tied to Wilderness and National Monument Protection
New report shows community economic health is associated with roadless and protected lands August 15, 2000 Acknowledgements
This study was produced by Southwick Associates for the Oregon Natural Resources Council (ONRC) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The primary author was Dr. Paul Lorah with co-authorship provided by Rob Southwick. Professional comments and critical review were provided by Dr. John Bergstrom of the University of Georgia, Dr. Rebecca Johnson of Oregon State University, Dr. John Loomis of Colorado State University, and Ernie Niemi of ECONorthwest. The authors wish to thank the many who provided invaluable assistance including Ken Rait and Tim Lillebo of the ONRC; Dr. Dominick Della Sala and Dale Hile of the WWF, and Pete Morton of The Wilderness Society. Special thanks also goes to Tom Sadler of Two Dogs Trading Company. Despite the countless people who assisted in this study, the authors remain solely responsible for all content herein.
Executive Summary The purpose of this study is to help improve understanding of the relationship between economic growth and protection of roadless lands. This was accomplished using historical data regarding the economic experience of individual western and Oregon counties. By looking to the past to see how county economies were affected by the creation of wilderness areas, we gain a better understanding of how future roadless designations might affect Oregon counties. Similarly, by investigating the relationship between protected areas (wilderness, national parks and national monuments) and local economies, we can find whether limiting extractive activities on public lands limits county-level economic growth.
The issues that were examined and the major results are as follows:
In Oregon, the relationship between the environment and the economy is changing. Industries that extract raw materials are stagnating, while industries that benefit from the presence of environmental amenities are growing rapidly.
If economic sectors benefiting from environmental amenities are more important sources of economic growth than extractive industries, then the presence of roadless areas and wilderness, national parks and national monuments should not harm local economies. In fact, in the eleven western states including Oregon, the presence of protected lands (wilderness, national parks, and national monuments) and roadless areas is associated with income and employment growth:
<>Now for the Cluster Bohica summary:The cluster analysis test indicates that the presence of Forest Service roadless or protected areas is not correlated with slower income or employment growth in any of the county clusters. This means that the statistical test could not find any indication that roadless or protected areas have caused county economies to grow slower. Instead, there is evidence that for some county types the presence of roadless areas is correlated with income and employment growth. ------------------------------------------------------------
Folks this is the Enviral Bravo Sierra that has led to Oregon's high rate of recession, companies leaving Oregon and the fire situation in the forests and other areas.
The answer is not higher employment when you stop roads into areas and make these forests/lands into Druid Cathedrals where no one can enter. The end result are the fires that we are seeing now and the incredible recession and unemployment that Oregon having due to this enviral Bravo Sierra stuff of closing roads and no lumber or ore businesses.