Forest Service Plans for New Logging Road
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Between 1975 and 1985 the U.S. government lost $2.1 billion from losses on below-cost timber sales. Yet despite the losses in 1986 the government has allocated $229 million to the Forest Service for building new logging roads in 1987.
These roads will allow more timber sales that will lose the government more money and will be constructed in wild areas, forever eliminating these areas from designated wilderness consideration.
The Forest Service has been on a massive road-building binge for decades, impoverishing sublime landscapes. According to current rates, the road building will destroy wilderness at a rate of 1 to 2 million acres a year.
This fiscally irresponsible and environmentally disastrous practice must cease at once. Each mile of forest road destroys an average of five acres of productive habitat. Road building is ugly, increases sediment pollution in streams and fragments wildlife habitats.
The debate on funding appropriations for 1988 should focus on whether there should be any funding at all and to begin reducing total mileage in the national forests.
MARK SKINNER
Los Osos
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