The Aug. 16 story “Putting forest on table: Elected officials, others discuss effects of 1994 Northwest Forest Plan on jobs in region,” was very interesting, though I suspect mostly political. Would be nice to get the politicians and others out of the equation and let the foresters manage the forest. I think we would find that Gifford Pinchot National Forest is big enough for loggers and birds.
I, too, would like to see productive use of the forest. Being a bit older than Skamania County Commissioner Bob Anderson, my memories of the community are of a good economy due to the timber/mill jobs. We had car dealerships, full-service garages, a tire shop, seven gas stations, but only four restaurants. Now we have two gas stations and eight or nine restaurants — go figure.
With many of the mills gone, logging will not be what it once was, but a sustainable yield forest program would benefit people and the forest. For that matter, a well-managed forest would benefit wildlife as well. Logged areas produce grass and bushes for deer and elk.
I only worked in the woods for a short time, but worked in the industry rafting and towing logs for many years. A lot of jobs were lost when the forest shut down. My hope is this issue is still on Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler’s, R-Camas, agenda after the election.
