New Ruling Allows Oregon’s Forests to Stay Wild

Text by Alyson Sheppard

In a surprise reversal of a Bush
administration land management plan, the Interior Department is abandoning
the Western Oregon Plan Revisions (WOPR), which would have allowed extensive
logging of western Oregon.  The
controversial plan left 2.6 million acres of property surrounding the Rogue
River susceptible to commercial clear-cutting. Conservation groups have
been fighting to safeguard this old-growth forest, carbon sink, wildlife
haven, and outdoor sport sanctuary since the plan was solidified late last
year. (The debate surrounding management of the Rogue is chronicled in
the upcoming August/September issue of ADVENTURE.)

Read why Interior Secretary Ken Salazar called the plan "indefensible" here. Read how this will affect the struggling
Oregon economy here.