Quoting the Bark fact sheet on Juncrock:
"The sale wants to remove trees that either are supposedly infected with indian paint fungus, red ring rot, brown cubicle butt rot, or mistletoe. Trees they consider at risk for these diseases (basically all western hemlocks) are considered viable as well. Most of the units are in healthy, native, old growth stands. The diseases the forest service is concerned about do slowly kill trees over periods ranging from 20-60 years. Dead trees (whether standing or fallen) create habitat for various species residing within forest ecosystems. Disease is a natural part of a forest progression called a "disturbance process." It is intregal to forest health to allow forests to progress through a natural occurence such as disease. Many forests pathologists agree that "disease, fires, wind-throw and other disturbances are a natural part of the forest ecosystem and assist in dynamic processes such as succession that are essential to long term ecoysystem maintence" (Art Patridge info). Furthermore, evidence shows that tree mortality due to disease increases in logged areas (USFS General Technical Report RM-234). Removing large trees here will not reduce susceptibility to disease, but unnaturally increase it. In addition, logging would disrupt all natural disturbance processes."
This area has already been heavily logged, the Juncrock area being one of the few remaining stands of old growth in the area. And, besides this timber sale, there are other sales in process in the area: Hilynx and Bearknolls both are close by. Little consideration is given by the U.S. Forest Service to the cumulative effects of all these timber sales.
This is a one minute video appealing to the public to get involved and comment on the sale by contacting Bark at Bark or 503-331-0374.
56K Stream
DSL/CABLE Stream
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