Fox Valley Sierra Group Chequamegon-Nicolet Forest Plan

This summer the Forest Service is holding hearings on long range plans for the Chequamegon and Nicolet National Forests. The comment period for the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests has been extended to August 11, 2003. Written comments can be submitted by: Mail to: Chequamegon-Nicolet Forest Plan Revision DEIS, P.O. Box 221090, Salt Lake City, UT 84122-1090 Fax to: 801-517-1014 E-mail to: chequamegonnicolet@fs.fed.us

It is clear to many people that the value of National Forests far exceeds the value of the lumber and wood pulp that can be harvested. These forests are important to wildlife. They are also valuable for recreational purposes. Less obviously, forests are also very important for providing us with clean air and water.

It has been estimated that recreation in National Forests contribute 38 times more income to the nation's economy than does logging. And some calculations show that the value of the water is even more valuable still. Clearly it does not make sense to over-harvest our National Forests. Quite possibly it would be appropriate to limit harvesting altogether.

The current Administration has been reducing protections for our National Forests. This is your comment period.

An article in our Chapter's publication, The Muir View (May-June 2003), discussed commercial logging on National Forests. The article claimed that more timber was sold from the Nicolet and Chequamegon than any other National Forest in the country including Alaska, and that the Forest Service is proposing even more cutting of the Nicolet and Chequamegon with four new massive timber cuts. Our Sierra Club Chapter Forest Committee is working vigorously to oppose these.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website, WDNR Forestry Program, states that "nearly 70 percent of the forest land in Wisconsin is in private ownership." We believe that public-owned forest lands be preserved for their non-lumber benefits.

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