U.S. Proposes New Forest Management Plan

[The Straight Story]

U.S. Proposes New Forest Management Plan

The federal Department of Agriculture unveiled a new plan on Thursday to manage the national forest system that government officials said would give them more flexibility in responding to modern stresses like climate change while also heading off lawsuits.

The 97-page plan, which could potentially guide mining, logging and wildlife protection in 155 national forests across nearly 200 million acres, is only a proposal and is likely to face fierce scrutiny and undergo many changes before it goes into effect.

While mining and timber industry groups seemed to take a wait-and-see attitude, several environmental advocacy groups quickly expressed deep disappointment over what they saw as setbacks for conservation.

“The bottom line is that this is a significant rollback of required protections for wildlife and habitat compared to what currently exists,” said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife, an advocacy group that through litigation halted two forest management plans proposed by the administration of President George W. Bush. “It is amazing. The public had the right to expect more from the Obama administration.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/11/science/earth/11forest.html?src=twrhp

[newfie11]

1. They better do something or there will be no pines left

In the Black Hills. The pine beetles are happily munching through many many acres of trees leaving them dead. Then of course they burn easily in forest fires.

[hobbit709]

2. If they follow the usual revamping of policy so far

they will turn over management to the lumber companies.