Old Growth Safe in Oregon

Yes, it is possible to limit logging without undercutting the timber industry. At least, that's the perspective of Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior for the Obama administration. With compromise in mind, Salazar announced the reversal of a Bush administration decision to allow extensive logging of old-growth forests in Oregon.

With this new decision, Salazar hopes to protect watershed, fisheries, and endangered birds such as the iconic spotted owl. Related moves are focused on increasing jobs in the timber industry that focus on newer, smaller trees and less invasive logging.

In a question and answer post on the Interior Department's site, Salazar and his staff lay out a whole range of projects planned for Oregon's timber industry. The idea is to create sustainable timber harvests and jobs while protecting old growth forests.

Photo courtesy of StockXChange.