BLM Old-Growth Forests Open For Logging

Public lands: open to old-growth logging, closed to you.

While most of us shelter in place, the Medford BLM is proceeding with an auction for the "Blown Fortune" old-growth timber sale in April.

Biologists, recreation planners, and those who look after fish and water quality have been told to stay home while BLM timber staff work to hand over your old-growth forests to the timber industry. The BLM believes that converting old-growth forests into fire-prone timber plantations is the fundamental purpose of public lands management.

Campgrounds? Closed.

Fuels-Reduction Projects? On Hold.

Prescribed Fire? Canceled.

Crater Lake National Park? Closed.

Medford BLM old-growth timber sale auctions? Open for business as usual.

If nothing else at least the veil has been pulled back on what the BLM really values. The BLM is willing to risk everything and anything to log your public lands.

Unlike the timber industry, we may be heeding guidelines to prevent the spread of Coronavirus in order to protect our loved ones and communities—yet we are not voiceless.

Let your voice roar.

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BLM Timber Sales and EO 20-12

Dear Governor Brown,

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Thank you for your work in these difficult times to protect Oregonians.

Many of us understand the need for the "Stay Home" Executive Order 20-12 and are sheltering in place. That includes those of us who love public lands. So it is disheartening and confusing that the Medford District BLM is continuing to offer controversial old-growth timber sales at this time.

I am particularly concerned about the recent decision of the Medford District BLM to offer the "Blown Fortune" old-growth timber sale for auction that will increase fire hazard through the establishment of tree plantations near the I-5 Corridor. While Oregonians cannot meaningfully engage in the administrative process or field checking of this old-growth timber sale, the Trump administration is plowing ahead with this logging project.

Please note that while many campgrounds, boat ramps, trail heads and even entire national forests are now closed the public, the BLM offices are open for old-growth timber sales. This is especially troubling to me given that planning for many non-commercial fuels reduction and restoration projects are on-hold.

This is a time for all Oregonians to pull together and abide by the same rules. The current crisis should not be exploited by the BLM to carve out a special place for old-growth logging.

Please request that the BLM put these controversial projects on hold, and instead direct their limited attention to the coming fire season by carrying out as much community education, home defense, and interface fuels reduction as possible.

Thank you for doing all that you can to protect our communities and our forests.

Sincerely, [Your information here]