Protecting species

The Canada lynx and grizzly bear were both listed as threatened species decades ago.

Since May 2013, seven Region 1 timber sales have been stopped in court because they would have logged more than 20 square miles of occupied critical lynx and grizzly bear habitat. Each of these sales was appealed multiple times. Each appeal was rejected by the deputy regional forester in Missoula.

These sales were located on the following national forests: Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Gallatin, Bitterroot, Lolo and Kootenai. The sales names are: Fleecer, Cabin Gulch, Bozemen Watershed, East Boulder, Colt Summit and Grizzly.

It’s sad that U.S. Forest Service leaders of the Northern Region care more about providing short-term corporate profit by selling timber than they do driving a species closer to extinction. Isn’t the Forest Service supposed to protect natural resources?

Please ask regional forester Faye Krueger to rule on appeals as if the appellant would sue the Forest Service. She makes up her mind on appeals before she reads them if she believes there is no chance the appellant will take court action when their appeal is rejected.

Americans with the resources to go to court should not be the only ones capable of stopping the Forest Service from selling tragic timber sales.

Dick Artley

USFS retired

Grangeville, Idaho