Conservation Northwest protects and connects old-growth forests and other wild areas from the Washington Coast to the British Columbia Rockies, vital to a healthy future for us, our children, and wildlife. Since 1989, Conservation Northwest has worke
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Getting wilder Erin Moore Publications, erin@conservationnw.org Planning for Forests Okanogan-Wenatchee In new forest plans for the next two decades for eastern Washington's national forests, the US Forest Service has recommended roadless areas and rivers for long-term wilderness protection, added improved grizzly bear habitat connectivity, embraced restoration of overstocked forests, and begun to address climate change. This summer, the agency took public comment, in person at open houses around Washington and by mail and email. What people told them? It's a good start, but there is much more to do: • • Protect mature and old-growth forests. Retain the Late-Successional Reserves on the OkanoganWenatchee and the "Eastside Screens" on the Colville to ensure that the wildlife that depend upon older forest conditions have sufficient habitat to survive. Protect wildlife habitat. Provide clear direction to protect, restore, and connect habitat that supports viable wildlife populations, and retain the "survey and manage" standard which protects the diverse smaller species that run the forest ecosystem. • Protect clean water. Add clear standards for maintaining high-quality habitat within key watersheds and riparian reserves. All management actions must Bodie Mountain Roadless Area in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest deserves wilderness recommendation. © Eric Zamora • • "maintain and restore" aquatic conditions at the scale of the individual forest stand and the entire watershed. Safeguard wilderness lands and roadless areas. Propose more eligible lands for wilderness protection, and maintain the wild character of roadless areas. Adopt climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. Inventory carbon stocks and protect carbon stored in old forests, soils, and wetlands. Provide habitat connectivity to allow wildlife to adapt to a changing climate and vegetation patterns. The planning process is a lengthy one: Work on the revised plans began over five years ago, and in June 2011 the Colville and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests released a summary of their draft environmental impact statements and proposed actions for revised plans for the two forests. Final environmental impact statements and Records of Decision for both forests are expected in fall of 2013. We will follow the Forest Service's progress closely to make sure the final management plans best serve people and wildlife in the Northwest. Thank you for taking action! Old fir habitat and nesting hole. © Eric Zamora Honoring Dick Rivers In this newsletter we honor Dick Rivers and note with sadness the passing of an amazing sportsman and conservationist. Dick devoted much of his life volunteering for wildlife and healthy habitat and exploring from the Columbia River to the Canadian Rockies to Hells Canyon. For wildlife, no one said it better than Dick: "I think it is easier to create a world view than it is to change one. Keeping the Northwest wild And so, one solution to ensuring the continued existence of large predators and large wild areas may be as simple as taking kids camping. Then take them again and again to make sure they're addicted. Then maybe someday they too can be awakened in the middle of the night by the howl of all that is wild." To send written memories or a contribution, or to nominate a sportsman or sportswoman for the newly created, annual Dr. Dick Rivers Sportsman Conservation Award, contact Jeff Holmes with the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers at washingtonstatebha@yahoo.com, 509-868-3337. Fall 2011 Fall 2011 17 17