One of the worst forestry bills in recent history is on the floor of Congress, and we hope that Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, will vote against it. HR 2936 would undermine more than a decade of progress increasing responsible, reliable timber harvests while protecting watersheds and wildlife. It would reverse the hard work of our two diverse collaborative groups in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Instead of moving forward increasing harvest without lawsuits as we have for years now, we could return to the timber wars of the past, where nobody wins.
Areas up to 30,000 acres in size — almost 50 square miles — could essentially be clear-cut with little environmental review or community input. Unsustainable clearcuts would wreak havoc on our fish, streams, and wildlife. Lawsuits and protests would break out throughout the Northwest, progress would stop, and it would be Herrera Beutler’s vote that caused the mayhem.
House Republicans are expected to pass HR 2936 soon. As executive director of the Cascade Forest Conservancy, I ask Rep. Herrera Beutler to vote “no” on this monstrosity that would leave no forest left behind.
