Monthly Archives: October 2018

Kariainen: Maintaining the Health of the Great Lakes Forests and Rural Communities

By Steve Kariainen, HFHC Great Lakes Director The recent editorial, “Recognizing what forest products, jobs mean to the region” did a great job of highlighting the importance of active forest management in maintaining the health of the region’s forests and rural communities. The editorial also quotes the U.S. Forest Service (USFS): “During National Forest Products…

Why it’s Important: Lake States Forest Management Bat Habitat Conservation Plan (Bat HCP)

By Steve Kariainen, HFHC Great Lakes Director Why the Lake States Bat HCP is Important:  The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was signed into law by President Nixon in 1973 for the purpose of protecting rare species from extinction.  The ESA made it illegal to “take” species deemed threatened or endangered.  “Taking” is defined as “to…

Timber-sale delays cause jobs and revenue to go up in smoke

This commentary by Josephine County (Ore.) Commissioner Simon Hare originally appeared in the Eugene Register-Guard. The Taylor Creek Fire in Josephine County illustrates how obstructionist tactics by fringe groups result in real consequences for our forests, communities, and the quality of our air and water. Our federal agencies are alarmed by the poor health of…