Permanent Protection
Part of the Cascadia Wildlands Project's proactive vision is to create permanent protection for remaining older forests in the region. For years, we have halted reckless timber sales on our public lands that degrade water quality, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities. Though we continue to defend threatened forests, we recognize that challenging individual timber sales isn't a strategic long-term solution for our treasured forests. That is why we have been working to educate the public, policy makers, editorial boards and local elected officials about the urgent need to permanently protect the iconic older rainforests in our region.
Less than 10% of our region's native forests (forests that haven't been logged) remain standing. Much of the diverse forested landscape that once stood has been clearcut and replaced with homogenous plantations that more resemble a corn crop. With this conversion we have lost a significant amount of biodiversity, with a number of species nearing the brink of extinction, including wild salmon runs, northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet and the wolverine.
We continue to educate prominent politicians in the Northwest about the need to permanently safeguard our remaining older forests. We expect Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR) to introduce a bill into Congress that will protect remaining older forests for future generations to enjoy, for wildlife habitat needs, for water quality protection and for their own sake. With popular support and the backing of prominent scientists, we believe old growth forest protection is right around the corner.
