Thinning forests a costly venture for hindering fires

Salem, OR Statesman-Journal ^ | August 3, 2002 | Dick Posekany

[WaterDragon]

The Statesman-Journal editors on July 16 offer an interesting proposal, "Policy changes will prevent future fires." We are told that 'thinning' the forest of a few trees and removal of brush would prevent future forest fire.

This would not be called logging because it would not include any marketable timber.

[WaterDragon]

SORRY...HERE'S THE CORRECT LINK!!!!!!

CORRECT LINK!

[Salvation]

My local fish wrapper - The Urinal Statesman.

[Utah Girl]

Interesting info, of course, we all know that logging on public lands is from the devil, according to environmentalists. We're fighting them here in Utah, I read an article in the paper last week from one who said that if the forests were cleared of the underbrush, etc, that the DIRT would become hot and cause the fires to burn hotter...

[lavaroise]

This would not be called logging because it would not include any marketable timber.

And what is wrong with logging? That's how the Swiss log and have maintained their forests healthy, environmentaly friendly, and pristine.

[Sacajaweau]

Damn Politicians: Start logging these woodland assets rather than watching them burn.

THIS IS A RENEWABLE ASSET AND IT SHOULD BE "FARMED" as such.

Tell the environmentalists that the goal of "protection" is wasteful, destructive and "Life consuming" (How many FIREFIGHTERS (and animals) DIED THIS YEAR??

We have had warnings for years.

Take the bull by the horns and let the loggers in (which would also create new jobs)and have the Forestry Department do their job also.

We NEED roads through these areas. In some populated areas, there is only one road for ingress/egress.

What ever happened to common sense and Congressmen who put health, safety and welfare before the interests of some group of "off the track" lobbyists like the enviromentalists of today.

[WaterDragon]

The liberal Statesman-Journal knows that thinning the forests and clearing debris is vital for preventing more years like this summer --- so they suggest a plan that has NO chance of success, and to boot will cost tons of tax payer money. Then they can say that thinning was no protection. Lying and selective news reporting is the hallmark of socialists.

[Looking for Diogenes]

If this were done in a timely method and included merchantable trees, the cost could be borne by the purchaser, and the federal or state timber owners would receive payment for marketable timber sold.

I have yet to read an article proposing logging-subsidized thinning that interviews a logging company willing to do the thinning in exchange for timber. It all sounds pie-in-the-sky. I'd like to see someone present some actual budgeting numbers for how it would work.

[Waco]

Forestry managers knew how to handle this loong before the queer/green/red winnies came along. Anarchists is all they are. We need to take a hard look at all the feel-good alphabet agencies we created which have been hi-jacked by the left for purposes of warfare/terrorism against the USA!

[AuntB]

I was told by a man who bids that they can bid to clear brush, debri etc. and pay the USFS $25.00 per acre to do it. It's got to be cheaper than paying the government to hire a bunch of union preppies.

[CyberAnt]

Well ... if thinning the forest is costly - just what kind of costs are we talking about to fight a fire?? Isn't that a lot more costly, especially since the fire can destroy homes, which thinning does not do? What about lives lost from the fire, which thinning also does not do?

To say thinning is costly is stupid logic!

[attagirl]

Welllllllllllllllllllllll??? Calling Gail Norton! Calling President Bush! Let's ROLL.

To me, this failed policy is all about usurping private property at a reduced rate as well as lessening resources. Maybe, maybe the meanie greenies want to bring on global warming since they're not winning the debate.

Sooooo, we have a new administration. WHY HASN'T THIS POLICY BEEN CORRECTED?

[Granof8]

As of this morning the Florence fire has cost $8.5 million to "clear" 188,000 acres and that's not including the value of the timber lost.

[CyberAnt]

And what price do you put on a home burned to the ground?? The couple had lived there for 30 years. They lost all their possessions of a lifetime. Please ... tell me what PRICE you would put on that?

[EternalLife]

This would not be called logging because it would not include any marketable timber.

No the government wouldn't dare call it logging. Wouldn't want to upset the evironazis would they?

[CyberAnt]

Thought you might like to know - the Pines fire in California has now reached $8 million - and that's for a 30,000 acre FIRE.

Soooo, to spend $8.5 million to CLEAR 188,000 acres doesn't seem so expensive. And ... what about AAAAALLLLLL the timber lost in a fire; surely in clearning 188,000 acres, they wouldn't lose 30,000 acres of timber.

[RightWhale]

When Congress created the land grid of townships and sections in the West, they allowed easements every mile for public access. Well, not everywhere, and the easements are only 66 or 100 feet wide. What Congress should do is create easements 200 feet wide every half mile on every section of land they still own. This should be done before the land is sold off or timbering or mining is conducted in the future. As to who should build roads and put in utilities, let it be by federal permit like everything else. If the easement crosses what is now private property, only the public agency should put in roads. Road access is far too complicated.

[tubebender]

At this moment there is a huge shortage of wood chips for pulp making and a need for waste wood byproducts for "HOG FUEL" for cogeneration. We have one generating facility idle here on Humboldt Bay and the pulp mill runs from day to day on a meager supply of chips and are paying a premium for the ones they get. There are portable chipping machines that can go into the woods and chip into special trailers to salvage these forest.

[brat]

It doesn't have to be. In AZ, they allow tree cutters in via lottery and they cut up the dead wood and trees to sell.

[Granof8]

Cyber Ant, I think you misunderstood the intent of my post. If these lands had been managed properly we wouldn't be in this situation.

To lose your home and possessions of a lifetime would be devastating. I pray now for friends at Agness and Oak Flat who are concerned about that possibility.

Timber is a crop, not a cathedral.