FOREST CONSERVATION NEWS TODAY - Untouched Natural Forests Store Three Times More Carbon!

Forests.org and Climate Ark projects of Ecological Internet, Inc. http://www.climateark.org/ -- Climate Ark, Climate Change Portal http://forests.org/ -- Forests.org August 4, 2008

OVERVIEW & COMMENTARY by Dr. Glen Barry, Ecological Internet.

"An important new Australian study finds that "untouched natural forests store three times more carbon dioxide than previously estimated and 60 percent more than plantation forests" and that first-time "logging resulted in more than a 40 percent reduction in long-term carbon compared with unlogged forests." They conclude that "in Australia and probably globally the carbon carrying capacity of natural forests is underestimated and therefore misrepresented in economic valuations and in policy options."This resoundingly confirms Ecological Internet's forest campaign's key principle: sustaining intact ancient primary forests, by virtue of their holding of carbon and species, is a requirement for global ecological sustainability. This Earth Action Network's shared commitment to ending ancient primary and old-growth forest logging has been validated by the emerging ecological science. And we hope this motivates you to continue taking action at http://www.ecoearth.info/alerts/ and to participate regularly in future email protest campaigns."

Thanks for the information Wendy!

Meanwhile in Douglas County

BLM proposes first old-growth clearcut sale in years.
Believing they can once again clearcut the nesting habitat for the northern spotted owl, Roseburg BLM is now targeting the Days Creek watershed for 236 acres of clearcutting in mature and old growth forests on public BLM lands.
Write or call the BLM to tell them what you think of this project on your public lands.

Ralph Thomas Field Manager, South River Field Office Roseburg District, BLM 777 N.W. Garden Valley Blvd Roseburg, Oregon 97471 Call them up 541.440.4930.
Or, Email your comments to: OR100MB@or.blm.gov

Tell the BLM to leave the old growth alone.

Above: Unit 25G, on the edge of Coffee Creek roadless area. BLM wants to clearcut this public forest!

Written on grave: “Carmella. 5-5-06 to 7-6-07. Little One”

Tell the BLM to leave the old growth alone. There's not much left and all the critters that depend on the diverse, old forests need it. Public forests is all they have left. Tell the BLM to just log in the forests that have already been clearcut (40 to 60 years ago), and replanted to be thick, fiber farms.

Information and Photos thanks to our dedicated Conservation Director, Francis Eatherington

We'd love to have your comments. Check back on Mondays for updates.