Local groups support Forest Service in suit

Two Central Oregon environmental organizations who have often opposed U.S. Forest Service actions in the past have now joined together to support the agency by intervening in a lawsuit over plans for thinning forests in the Metolius Basin.

In a news release issued by the Sisters Forest Planning Committee and the Friends of the Metolius, Gregory McClarren, president of the Friends said, "We felt like we had an obligation to intervene. Our group requested that the Forest Service do the restoration in the first place to restore the Metolius Basin to a more natural ecological state."

McClarren said that problems with forest health and fire safety in the area comes from past Forest Service management in suppressing all fires and logging of fire-resistant old growth trees.

The League of Wilderness Defenders-Blue Mountain Biodiversity Project have brought the lawsuit against the proposed management plan.

"This is not a Bush administration timber sale targeting old growth forests," said Paul Dewey, attorney for the Sisters Forest Planning Committee. "In fact, the upper diameter limit for the cutting of ponderosa pine trees in the Metolius Project is restricted to 16 inches."

Both of the Central Oregon organizations have been critical of Forest Service management policies in the past.

"While we respect the right of the Blue Mountain Diversity to appeal Forest Service projects, we don't believe they are right in this case," McClarren said. "The Metolius Basin needs the project."