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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 Camp and fish for free at Oregon state parks next weekend 10 things to know for Friday SOU launches arts institute for high school students It's a family affair for these trick riders at the Expo 10 things to know for Thursday Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Metal thieves ordered to pay $206,394 Police arrest repeat offender after 90-minute chase Report of shooting in Jacksonville was a hoax, police say Missing Ashland woman found dead Politics and Elections Case, Salmon leading in Central Point School Board race Lundberg, Mannenbach leading Eagle Point races Jackson County district election turnout under 17 percent Arthur I. 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Mangino: The promise of legal representation often not fulfilled Letters to the Editor, May 29 Michael Gerson: Religious conservatives' shifting role Granlund cartoon: FIFA corruption charges Editorials Our View: State needs to speed up retail pot timeline Our View: A fitting legacy for a wildlife champion Our View: Wine growers take note of climate change Our View: Don't siphon off prison savings just yet Other Views: PERS ruling leaves little room to maneuver Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 29 Letters to the Editor, May 28 Letters to the Editor, May 27 Letters to the Editor, May 26 Letters to the Editor, May 25 Columns Michael Gerson: Religious conservatives' shifting role George Will: The separation of campaign and state Dana Milbank: The decline of Rand Paul Kathleen Parker: It must not be easy being Bill Kristol We can reduce greenhouse gas emissions Guest Opinions We can reduce greenhouse gas emissions Guest Opinion: BLM management plans fail people and forests Guest Opinion: Medford needs SkyPark more than it needs parking Guest Opinion: Ample water? Think again Guest Opinion: Oregon mothers need much more than flowers Lifestyle Latest stories Cocktail Hour Community blog: Raise your glass to rhubarb before it's toast Atkinson film on Klamath Basin water wars to play at Varsity Get Out: Friday, May 29 Health Watch: Taking action, with skin cancer on the rise Food Community blog: Raise your glass to rhubarb before it's toast Community blog: Scallions, scapes bring more savor to rhubarb Lavender in your larder Traveling in time with Grandma Skinner's Scottish Shortbread Andrea Honaker: Getting to know rhubarb Home and Garden Betty Montgomery: Clematis is a lovely, versatile flowering vine Make herbs part of your plant world Homeowner’s insurance: What it covers, what it excludes Monarchs are disappearing, but you can help with a wildflower garden Linda Cobb: Time to make a list of spring garden chores Health Health Watch: Taking action, with skin cancer on the rise It Is What It Is: Come on body, stay with me! Community blog: It�s a Shame: How to Understand and Manage It Health Watch: How to avoid the diet rut Donna Knight: How to lessen your risk Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 22 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 15 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 8 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Milestones and Achievements New rec program targets park events Prefontaine-style running trail proposed in south Medford Bukair-Hinkle Wedding: Stephanie Anne Obad and Mark Douglass Schmor Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories 5 picks for live entertainment Live Music in Local Clubs Cast of Clowns pays tribute to Grateful Dead at Brickroom in Ashland YSSO showcases Mozart, Jerry Su and Mark Jacobs 'Night Train to Memphis' Theater Oregon Cabaret Theatre stages gritty 'Cabaret' SOU presents Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale' OSF commissioned plays tour throughout country 'Cuckoo's Nest' is a big play, well presented 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' Music Live Music in Local Clubs Cast of Clowns pays tribute to Grateful Dead at Brickroom in Ashland YSSO showcases Mozart, Jerry Su and Mark Jacobs The Farr Side: ‘American Idol’ could have continued much longer 'Night Train to Memphis' Community Events Camp and fish for free at Oregon state parks next weekend Backstage tours give insider's look at Oregon Shakespeare Festival It's a family affair for these trick riders at the Expo Unleash your inner cowboy at the Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo May 28-30 in Central Point Memorial Day celebrates veterans Movies Movie review: ‘San Andreas’ has its faults, but it’s a fantastic-looking disaster film What the ‘Entourage’ gang has to say about the film The ‘Entourage’ movie: Catching up with Vince, E, Drama, Turtle and Ari Interview: ‘Good Kill’ offers blistering look at ‘battlefields and blackjack’ of drone warfare Review: ‘Tomorrowland’ feels like another Disneyland staple — Dopey Dining Teapot on Wheels an outpost for Anglophiles Lavender in your larder Upscale pub fare at The Point Wine by the keg, growler, box and ammo can 6 stars of the Rogue Valley food universe 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: State needs to speed up retail pot timeline ... SOU launches arts institute for high school students ... Get Out: Friday, May 29 ... Our View: State needs to speed up retail pot timeline ... SOU launches arts institute for high school students ... Get Out: Friday, May 29 ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: BLM management plans fail people and forests By Sue Kupillas MailTribune.com By Sue Kupillas Posted May. 24, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Sue Kupillas Posted May. 24, 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" --> Western Oregon’s rural forested communities have waited over 20 years for a solution to restore balance to the management of the Bureau of Land Management’s O&C timberlands. More active management is desperately needed to create jobs and generate county timber receipt revenues. As Oregon’s congressional delegation has tried and so far been unable to reach agreement on legislation to increase timber harvests, many hoped relief would come through the BLM’s proposed Resource Management Plans. Now that the agency’s draft plans have been released, it seems the BLM favors the status quo over any real changes that would make a meaningful and positive difference for citizens and families who reside near these lands as well as restore health and vigor of the forests. O&C lands are inextricably tied to the economic fabric of Western Oregon’s forested communities. Because of their unique history, the federal government mandated that O&C lands be managed for the benefit of the counties that host these lands. Unlike national forests that are intended to be managed for multiple uses, O&C lands are required under law to be managed for sustained-yield timber production to generate revenues for counties while supporting jobs in the local economy. Though timber must be harvested for revenues and jobs, under sustained yield principles these harvests cannot exceed what the forests can grow every year. For much of its history, the O&C lands enabled rural communities and counties to be self-sufficient and prosperous. This changed in the early 1990s as a barrage of lawsuits brought even modest timber projects to a halt. Today we harvest less than 20 percent of the forests’ 1.2 billion board feet of annual growth, resulting not only in economic decline but increased tree mortality and fuel loads for future wildfires. President Bill Clinton’s Northwest Forest Plan was supposed to balance the need for protection of the Northern Spotted Owl with the economic needs of nearby communities. Unfortunately, after 20 years it is clear that this hands-off, single-species approach to management has failed our communities, the forests and the spotted owl, whose populations continue to decline in the face of predators and catastrophic wildfire. As the BLM prepares to replace its Clinton-era plans to guide the future management of O&C forests, it’s concerning that the agency appears poised to double-down on an approach that has failed everyone as well as everything we value in these forests. None of the alternatives offered by the BLM in its draft plans would provide sufficient or predictable, sustainable supply of timber. The plans would set aside more land under the guise of environmental protection, ignoring the federal O&C Act and the failures of the past two decades. Because the plans make no effort to increase the pace and scale of forest management activities, we can only expect larger and more severe wildfires that now commonly fill our valleys with smoke. Some alternatives in the draft management plans are better than others. The BLM’s preferred alternative would set a course for harvest levels of 234 million board feet per year, which is close to current levels and still less than 20 percent of the forests’ annual growth. One alternative would increase harvest levels to 486 million board feet per year, yet it’s highly doubtful the agency would ever achieve this goal. That’s because the draft plan fails to reconcile well-intentioned but conflicting federal regulations. These conflicting regulations have been used by radical groups to litigate countless timber projects. It’s uncertain how other federal agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will respond to projects under the new plan. The BLM’s draft plans are disappointing, though unsurprising considering the sum of broken federal policies that prevent the forests from being actively managed. It’s critical for citizens to get involved and urge the BLM to improve their draft plans. But only Congress can provide the relief necessary to honor the promise that was made to counties and communities through the O&C Act. We must urge Sen. Ron Wyden and all of our congressional delegation to work together and address the litigation and federal “analysis paralysis” that continue to prevent efforts to bring balance to the management of these federal lands and restore economic vitality to our local communities. Sue Kupillas is a former Jackson County Commissioner and former executive director of Communities for Healthy Forests. By Sue Kupillas MailTribune.com By Sue Kupillas Posted May. 24, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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