Logging not cure for forests

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (April 5) is right about the plight of the federal forests in Eastern Washington, but the problem extends all across the globe. She cites a prediction of a one-third tree die-off in the next 15 years. That would be catastrophic. We can already see local forests killed by the bark beetle and, by satellite, see photos of the major devastation of insect-infested forests in British Columbia. She can hardly blame federal forest mismanagement for this loss, which is more probably due to the change in our climate.

The stated purposes of House Resolution 1526 include economic stability, fire prevention and cost reduction. When Congress directs the U.S. Forest Service to maximize revenue and reduce costs, it may not be the disease-prone pine trees that are logged, but the valuable cedars. We saw this firsthand in the President George W. Bush era.

Using the public’s love of forests to promote more logging is deceptive. Let’s understand the real problems here and work to restore a healthy, diverse and sustainable forest.

Judy Butler

Hope, Idaho