The Nov. 25 editorial “Failing our forests: Current policies are inadequate; Congress must heed recommendations,” is probably correct about managing policies on most government-owned lands failing. However, I don’t think it’s true for private forests (those owned by corporate or small landowners). The only big problem that does exist on private timberlands (on the western side) is we are required to plant way too many seedlings after harvest. This has created too dense of forest and less diversity.
This can be fixed by changing the laws; however, it will take 50-plus years for the benefit. Also, allowing small landowners and families to live on the land will allow much more hands-on forest management. This change can be accomplished by zoning changes.
Government lands can be thinned and harvested with less emphasis on just watching it grow (and burn) — in other words, a more open, embracing and realistic environmental policy.
We need to look to our own 50 percent of timberland in our county first and federal lands second.
