Usfs Counted ‘Phantom Trees’ Agency Admits Timber Targets Were Flawed
The U.S. Forest Service has finally admitted what two environmental groups have been saying for eight years: the Kootenai National Forest used “phantom trees” to justify the timber-cutting targets in its management plan.
But Kootenai National Forest officials still dispute the claim and may fight on.
The Cabinet Resource Group and Montana Wilderness Association filed suit in September after waiting eight years for a decision on the appeal it filed in 1987.
The decision, just signed by Forest Service Chief Jack Ward Thomas, concurs with their claim that the forest overestimated saw-timber volumes by counting “phantom forests” that existed only on paper.
The forest plan set a ceiling of 227 million board feet for yearly timber cutting. But internal agency memorandums since have shown that the forest can actually produce no more than 130 million to 150 million board feet a year.
Thomas ordered the Kootenai to set its yearly timber sale program level at 150 million board feet and to amend the allowable sale quantity listed in the forest management plan.
“Hopefully, this decision signals the end of an era of abuse on the Kootenai National Forest,” said Bill Martin of the Cabinet Resource Group.
“The Forest Service has finally accepted what we’ve been saying for years,” said Mike Grayson of the Wilderness Association.
“The Kootenai inflated its timber promises and its budget by claiming it has more big trees than are really there.”
“By slashing the maximum timber cut, the Washington office sent a clear message that this type of creative accounting will not be tolerated.”
While conceding that the forest is on orders to amend its management plan, Kootenai planner Joan Dickerson said there is no “phantom tree” issue. “We overestimated some saw-timber acres,” she said, “but not necessarily the inventory.”
She said the Kootenai has a year either to amend the sale level or to issue a notice of intent to review the entire plan.
Thomas’ decision on the appeal also rapped the Kootenai for including an “escape clause” in the forest plan that allows it to exempt timber sales from environmental standards.
The exemptions must instead be treated as site-specific forest plan amendments, the chief said.
In addition, the forest was ordered to amend the plan to incorporate a recent grizzly bear habitat-protection agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and all guidelines of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.