Association News

Efforts to Withdraw Murrelet Listing

On January 20, the Pacific Legal Foundation announced that it had filed a suit on behalf of Coos County, Ore. to remove the marbled murrelet from Endangered Species Act protection.

The Foundation alleged that 1996 changes in the law and a species review in 2004 made the reason for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listing the small seabird in the first place in 1992 moot. Their argument is that the population of murrelets nesting in Washington, Oregon, and California are legally "distinct" from the genetically similar (and abundant) populations in British Columbia and Alaska.

The Foundation stated that USF&WS had promised to issue a formal proposal to de-list the bird by the end of 2005 but had failed to do so, causing them to have to file the lawsuit.

Canadian Beetle Infestation

In The Idaho Logger, a publication put out by the Associated Logging Contractors, an article noted Northwest loggers’ concerns that British Columbia may have to harvest as many as 21 million acres to stop the pine beetle. That much timber flooding the market could drive down timber prices.

To give an idea of the scope of the BC infestation, the infected timber would cover an area approximately 40 percent of the size of the state of Idaho. The beetles are native to BC and the Inland Northwest, but warm winters and an abundance of Lodgepole pine are allowing the beetles to flourish. The infestation is the worst on record — 20 times larger than a severe outbreak in the 1930s.

Log a Load for Kids

Raises $2 million Loggers from 26 states, working in coalition with forest products businesses and forestry equipment dealers, raised nearly $2 million for local Children’s Miracle Network hospitals during their 2005 campaign.

Western states that helped with their 2005 contributions included: California, $19,035; Montana, $18,113; Oregon, $70,829; and Washington, $60,000.

Since its start in 1988, the Log a Load for Kids program has raised over $24 million.

FRA Upset With Blood Donor’s Campaigns

The FRA (Forest Resources Association) was disturbed when they discovered that the American Red Cross, the American Society of Blood Banks, and America's Blood Centers chose to mount an appeal to young adult blood donors presenting forest operations as destructive, with a reference to a website (www.bloodsaves.com) that shows an iconic forest being devastated, despite the efforts of a lone "tree hugger," as an opening animated graphic.

The FRA communicated its displeasure to the American Red Cross and received a satisfactory response: "The American Red Cross apologizes for any offense we may have caused members of your organization. We value your comments and we are developing replacement ads at this time…. Extensive research was conducted in the preparation of this campaign, which showed the youth demographic found the ads to be empowering and motivational, rather than discouraging them from getting involved in other worthy causes. We absolutely value your support and in no way meant to offend your members or constituents. The replacement ads, currently in development, will show that we are sensitized to the issues you raised."

New Poll Shows Skepticism

The Associated California Loggers reported in February that a new poll taken of probable voters in Oregon, Washington and Northern California reported some skepticism on most forest issues. The poll was conducted to find ways to communicate about the delisting or modification requirements around the Northern Spotted Owl. Polling questions also addressed general issues as well.

Most of the findings were not a surprise. There is a continued dissatisfaction with clearcuts, but two-thirds polled felt forest regulations are about right or could be stricter. Most didn’t see the spotted owl as a separate issue but a symbol of forest industry excesses. The public appears increasingly disconnected between the use of forest products and the harvest of trees — seeing the forest as a public-interest asset.

The poll advised forest advocates not to use arguments or initiate debates. Instead, it recommends offering comments to support the timber industry as a good steward of the land and that development is the danger to the public perception of forests.

Western Lumber Output Down in January

Western lumber production totaled 1.631 billion board feet in January, down 0.6 percent from the January 2005 total, according to the Western Wood Products Association. January production in the Coast region was up 2.1 percent versus the January 2005 total, while Inland production was down 2.8 percent.

2006 NAWLA Spring Conf.

This year the NAWLA (North American Wholesale Lumber Association) Executive conference will be held April 30 - May 2 at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort, New Mexico.

The NAWLA Spring Conference has been redesigned with decision makers uppermost in mind, and aptly renamed the 2006 NAWLAExecutive Conference. Valuable networking opportunities and educational programs will be offered, in addition to golfing and other entertaining activities. For details visit the NAWLAwebsite at www.nawla.org.

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