Protesters Trying To Stop Logging Of Ancient Trees But Negotiators Fail To Agree On Land Trade In Oregon Forest

Environmentalists tried Thursday to stall logging of land containing trees believed to be 1,000 years old long enough for Umpqua National Forest officials to work out a trade for younger trees.

However, about 15 protesters failed to stop loggers for Scott Timber, a subsidiary of Roseburg Forest Products, from reaching the First timber sale site in the Tiller ranger district, said Umpqua spokeswoman Liz Stephenson.

Originally offered during the battle over the northern spotted owl, the timber sale was withdrawn by the Forest Service to protect old-growth forest habitat. Though located in an area now set aside as an old-growth reserve, it was released under authority of the so-called salvage rider, which suspends enforcement of environmental laws to speed up logging.

“We’re dealing with trees that conceivably could be the oldest living organisms in Oregon,” said Ken Carloni of the environmental group Umpqua Watersheds. “We’re starting to call it the ‘new Millennium Grove.”’

The Millennium Grove was a seven-acre stand in the Willamette National Forest believed to contain trees more than 1,000 years old. It was logged by Willamette Industries in 1986 before environmentalists could get a court order stopping the logging.

Under the salvage rider, environmentalists can’t appeal timber sales or go to court to stop them. Old sales such as the First sale must be offered under their original terms, even though standards for protecting the environment have tightened considerably.

Carloni said Roseburg Forest Products President Allyn Ford had said he was willing to trade for other timber, but the Forest Service hadn’t made a viable offer. It was not clear whether any trees have been cut.

Two weeks of negotiations, which included Assistant U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Jim Lyons, failed to work out a deal, and a meeting to identify substitute timber was canceled, Carloni said.