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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services Living with wildlife Armed protesters gather at Medford BLM office over Sugar Pine Mine dispute Expect up to two-hour delays on I-5 near Cottage Grove on Sunday Anonymous local makeup artist dolled up Monica for trial Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Medford robbery suspect arrested after pursuit in Bend Dispose of documents and prescription drugs safely on Saturday Emergency services Teenager struck, killed by pickup Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Gov. Brown touts need for transportation funding in talk to Medford chamber Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Former state Senate President Brady Adams dies Education Needs improvement SWAT students track progress of stream restoration efforts Students participate in fuel reduction effort at Ruch School New funding formula awards universities for graduating more students Official hopeful whooping cough case at John Muir contained Environment Armed protesters gather at Medford BLM office over Sugar Pine Mine dispute Jackson County's wildlife services agent seen as both killer and savior Biomass technology: Creating products out of former waste Sugar Pine Mine co-owner: "Please stop calling the BLM and threatening their personnel" Oath Keepers say they'll defend contested mining claim on BLM land State News Oregon House committee OKs more background checks on firearm sales Search for missing plane, pilot in Oregon enters third day Cheetah, dog are fast friends Bill would let motorcyclists drive between cars during jams Oregon legislators go after slow drivers Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Dennis Von Ting Richard "Dick" John Herbstruth Death Notices Florene LaVonne (Johnson) Stephens Cheryl Ann Orr Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Fredenburg grand slam powers Chieftains Warriors storm back, top Pels SOU's Neal fifth, Reitman seventh in CC multis Giants sweep Dodgers on Maxwell hit Weekley, de Jonge share lead in Zurich Classic Varsity 541 College Sports SOU's Neal fifth, Reitman seventh in CC multis Aspiring Duck quarterback bucks the odds Marshall stays with Ducks to get better Eckert, Beavers take series from Arizona Randall drives SOU into postseason Pro Sports Warriors storm back, top Pels Giants sweep Dodgers on Maxwell hit Weekley, de Jonge share lead in Zurich Classic Griner, fiancee Johnson arrested after fight Title Quest Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Wilson delivers in return of local boxing Palmer breezes to second straight men’s title Business Latest Stories (No heading) New home in an old house Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Jackson County's March unemployment rate returns to pre-recession level Real Estate News New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house GREEN ACRES: Southern Oregon provides escape from the maddening crowd Since You Asked: Metro Medford rebranding proved economical Jackson County median home price hits $215,000 in first quarter People In Business Transportation Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Business briefs Medford airport's record run continues Gov. Brown touts need for transportation funding in talk to Medford chamber Agriculture Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house New bosses take charge at Harry & David Dancin Vineyards covers up Opinion Latest Our View: Buildings belong with the Jackson County Library District Letters to the Editor, April 24 Michael Gerson: 'The Road to Character' starts with humility Arthur I. Cyr: Japan-U.S. trade deal advances, with Pacific and global significance Letters to the Editor, April 23 Editorials Our View: Buildings belong with the Jackson County Library District Our View: Public's right to film police should be protected Our View: Raises for Jackson County officials — again Other Views: Delay edible marijuana products for safety Our View: The rule of law vs. armed confrontation Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, April 24 Letters to the Editor, April 23 Letters to the Editor, April 22 Letters to the Editor, April 21 Letters to the Editor, April 20 Columns Michael Gerson: 'The Road to Character' starts with humility Dana Milbank: The right's new claim: same-sex marriage is deadly Kathleen Parker: Mr. Hughes goes to Washington Esther Cepeda: What happens in Latin America should be reported Kathleen Parker: Presidential election 2016: The woman trap Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: This Earth Day, we celebrate the Northwest Forest Plan The Medford School Board was wrong: 'American Pageant' is a political agenda, not history The Medford School Board was right: 'American Pageant' is a fine book, and the board did its homework Guest Opinion: Removing barriers to walking, biking benefits everyone Guest Opinion: Conversion therapy on LGBT youth is child abuse Lifestyle Latest stories Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Fishing Report: Friday, April 24 Get Out: Friday, April 24 View from above Untold stories of the dark-eyed junco Food Community blog: Oregon Breweries to grow or seriously to grow? The joy of true wasabi Season Stepp: Veggie treat hidden deep inside artichokes Tammy Kelly: The South’s favorite side dish — slaw Community blog: Steep, don't smother, chilaquiles in red chili sauce Home and Garden Garden Cameos: Spring is time for azaleas in the garden Dear Monty: Seven costly mistakes of new real estate investors Paul Rogers: Enjoy convenience of container gardening Home Help: 3 quick, easy kitchen and bath upgrades Carol Link: Tea olive shrubs can be propagated from new growth Health Dr. Jeff Hersh: Could severe cramping mean endometriosis? Dr. Murray Feingold: Is pre-op testing for cataract surgery necessary? Community blog: What about Lucy? Brent St. Germain: One year and counting Community blog: The Healing Power of Nature Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Religion briefs: Friday, April 3 Religion briefs: Friday, March 27 Milestones and Achievements Witham's birthday bash draws hundreds for 1950s prices Charlesworth-Murphy Drizzle doesn't dampen Pear Blossom Parade spirit New Arrivals: Sunday, April 12 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Rogue Valley Earth Day 2015 Alba's Edge at Headwaters in Ashland Regional brewers, distillers, winemakers at Harry & David Field A Taste of Ashland pairs food and wine at galleries Britt adds Watkins Family Hour concert with Sean and Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek, Fiona Apple and others Theater 'Secret Love' playwright Stan Lai appears in Ashland REVIEW: 'Secret Love' strikes comical, poignant balance Ashland New Plays Festival chooses new artistic director A tale of two plays at OSF Oregon Cabaret Theatre's "The Musical!" delivers five clever Broadway parodies in Ashland Music Alba's Edge at Headwaters in Ashland Britt adds Watkins Family Hour concert with Sean and Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek, Fiona Apple and others Alex de Grassi and Andrew York play SOU Live Music in Local Clubs L.A. rockers The Relationship play Howiee's Community Events Rogue Valley Earth Day 2015 Foreign language film festival set at SOU Regional brewers, distillers, winemakers at Harry & David Field A Taste of Ashland pairs food and wine at galleries Third Fridays celebrates poetry, student art Movies Movie review: ‘Ex Machina’ is the droid you’re looking for Movie review: Fairly smooth sailing for ‘The Water Diviner’ Movie review: ‘Age of Adaline’ is sweet but a little sloppy Movie review: Powerful, tense kidnapping story ‘24 Days’ delivers a strong message Movie review: Crowe’s historical drama ‘The Water Diviner’ isn’t divine, but it’s pretty darn good Dining Island Grindz serves up Hawaiian specialties Have you wandered down the Bear Creek Wine Trail yet? Restaurant inspections: April 19, 2015 Siam Cafe offers 'mild' to 'very spicy' Thai cuisine Restaurant inspections, April 12, 2015 Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Buildings belong with the Jackson County Library District ... Saving money, making money with trout ... Armed protesters gather at Medford BLM office over Sugar Pine Mine dispute ... Our View: Buildings belong with the Jackson County Library District ... Saving money, making money with trout ... Armed protesters gather at Medford BLM office over Sugar Pine Mine dispute ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: This Earth Day, we celebrate the Northwest Forest Plan By Dominick A. DellaSala and Jim Furnish MailTribune.com By Dominick A. DellaSala and Jim Furnish Posted Apr. 19, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Dominick A. DellaSala and Jim Furnish Posted Apr. 19, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> One of us is a conservation scientist and the other is former deputy chief of the Forest Service and Siuslaw National Forest supervisor. What we share in common is a love for the great outdoors, our families, and having been intimately involved in the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP), which in 1994, shifted management of 24 million acres of Forest Service and BLM lands from timber dominance to ecosystem management. Back when we were launching our careers in the 1980s, majestic old-growth forests from redwoods to Olympic rainforests were being clearcut at about 2 square miles a week. Iconic salmon runs were crashing, bellwether species such as the spotted owl were circling the extinction drain, and the regional economy was on a collision course with nature. Without the NWFP, older forests, outside of a few parks and wilderness areas, would have been liquidated this decade. Thanks to the NWFP, streams are recovering, deforestation has slowed dramatically on public lands, and the region’s forests are doing their part to stymie global warming by soaking up atmospheric carbon dioxide. In sum, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! But some say that the embattled spotted owl is still headed to extinction, protective stream buffers should be chopped in half to restart logging, and the plan is not meeting timber targets. To this we say that the NWFP is a century-long plan that is only in its second decade. Because 40 percent of the “old-growth reserves” started out as recovering clearcuts, the forests need more time to become spotted owl habitat. If anything, stream buffers should be widened to absorb flash floods from an anticipated future of intense winter storms. And Congress typically authorizes up to 700 million board feet of timber annually for the NWFP region — that’s more than enough log trucks to stretch the entire length of Interstate 5 if parked end-to-end! Conservation groups have supported much-needed thinning in overstocked plantations as an alternative to old-growth logging. Two decades of forest monitoring has shown that federal forests are a wellspring of clean water. BLM lands in western Oregon, for instance, supply nearly 2 million residents with drinking water. In contrast, the alarming decline of snow pack in the Northwest in the last few decades may soon make water rationing a likely climate change hangover, as California is now facing. Logging on steep slopes and road building only magnify these problems by polluting streams with sediment runoff. Repairing or decommissioning failing roads, replacing outdated culverts, and protecting fish-bearing streams are the NWFP’s sound climate change measures. Oregon’s older forests also store more atmospheric carbon per acre than nearly any forest on Earth. When these forests are cut down, about half of their stored carbon is released as carbon dioxide, a global warming pollutant. To help reduce carbon dioxide pollution from logging, private landowners that practice stewardship can now sell carbon credits to developers seeking to offset global warming pollution. Climate change also may trigger an increase in forest fires. Thus, we need to responsibly prepare forestlands and homeowners for this new reality. Based on decades of fire monitoring, plantations, with their dense young trees, burn with unnatural intensity in forest fires. This is only made worse by “salvage” logging that strips the burned forest of its capacity to rebound from fire. Large dead trees left behind by fires are legacies for new forest growth. They shade seedlings from intense sunlight, anchor fragile soils, and provide habitat for insect-eating bats and birds. In contrast, industrial logging transforms natural forests into ticking firebombs as slash piles up in clearcuts. The 2014 Douglas (Douglas County) and Beaver fires (east of the Greensprings) burned primarily in industrialized forestlands. The 2002 Biscuit fire near Cave Junction burned hottest in areas previously salvage-logged. Thinning small, dense trees in flammable plantations and clearing vegetation nearest homes are responsible fire-risk reductions. Finally, the Siuslaw National Forest exemplifies how ending old-growth logging and focusing on restoration is a solution to timber wars. In 1994, then Forest Supervisor Furnish boldly moved the Siuslaw into plantation thinning. Today, that forest produces some 40 million board feet annually without a single appeal. The BLM and Forest Service should take note of this example as they revise forest plans. So, on this Earth Day, we celebrate the Northwest Forest Plan, take pride in the naturalness of our region as a magnet for diversifying economies, and remain optimistic that our children will inherit from us a region teeming with wild salmon, verdant old-growth forests, clean water and a safe climate. Dominick A. DellaSala, Ph.D., chief scientist at the Geos Institute, is the author of over 200 scientific publications, including the award-winning Temperate and Boreal Rainforests of the World (www.islandpress.org/dellasala) and is editor of The Ecological Importance of Mixed-Severity Fires: Nature’s Phoenix (Elsevier). Jim Furnish is retired as deputy chief of the Forest Service and also served as Siuslaw National Forest Supervisor from 1992-1999. He is the author of a just-released memoir, "Toward A Natural Forest."   By Dominick A. DellaSala and Jim Furnish MailTribune.com By Dominick A. 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