Mexican Gray Wolf Reintroduction in Arizona Threatened
11/30/98
*******************************
RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: Mexican Gray Wolf Reintroduction in Arizona Threatened
Source: American Lands
726 7th Street, SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
202/547-9105
202/547-9213 fax
wafcdc@americanlands.org
Status: Distribute and reprint freely with proper credit to source
Date: 11/30/98
FOREST FOCUS, the bulletin of American Lands, November 30, 1998
To reach us call (202)547-9400, fax (202)547-9213, or email
wafcdc@americanlands.org
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CALL FOR DECOUPLING: In an opinion editorial in The
Oregonian November 18, Oregon's Lane County commissioner Peter Sorenson
calls for separating county payments from timber receipts. Sorenson is
one of a growing number of County commissioners to endorse ending timber
counties' dependence on timber cutting for needed county revenue. A
Forest Service proposal would stabilize payments to states and counties
with National Forests regardless of the timber volume cut, while a bill
introduced in the last Congress by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) would
allow counties to choose between guaranteed payments or receiving a
portion of timber revenues. Both measures, writes Sorenson, are likely
to reduce logging pressure in timber-dependent counties. "It is
inappropriate to link county revenues to the harvest of trees on our
federal forests," added Patsy Miller, Benton (OR) County Commissioner.
"Such a financial incentive often influences counties to support
unsustainable forest management practices."
WOLF REINTRODUCTION THREATENED: Only two of the initial 11 Mexican gray
wolves reintroduced into the Arizona are left and none are roaming free,
reports Associated Press. The two remaining wolves were recently captured
and matched with female wolves in pens. Since the reintroduction in
January, four other wolves were shot to death, one was found dead last
Monday, three were recaptured and one is missing and presumed dead.
Federal officials are looking for those responsible in the shootings and
are offering a reward for information leading to a conviction. The
government has put up $10,000 and conservation groups have added another
$25,000. Supporters of reintroduction say the program is working. "The
wolves have adjusted well to the wild and even produced pups on their own.
All the problems that have come up so far are human caused," said Craig
Miller, Southwest representative for Defenders of Wildlife. "Wolves and
humans and wolves and livestock can and will coexist. All that needs to
happen is people not shoot them."
LOGGING, ROADBUILDING SUSPENDED IN VERMONT: In response to a recent appeal
of a timber sale by Vermont's Forest Watch, the Forest Service announced
last week a suspension of all future logging and roadbuilding activities
on the 350,000 acre Green Mountain National Forest. On November 20, just 2
weeks after Forest Watch filed its appeal of the 700,000 board foot Old
Joe timber sale, the Forest Service withdrew the sale, citing the need to
protect the migratory Indiana bat. The temporary moratorium will be in
effect until the agency completes a biological assessment of the needs of
the endangered bat. A similar halt to logging may soon be imposed on the
White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. For more information,
contact Jim Northup, Forest Watch at 802/223-3216, jnorthup@together.net.
WARD VALLEY SIGN-ON: The Save Ward Valley group is compiling a letter to
California's Governor-elect Gray Davis asking him to stop the proposed
Ward Valley nuclear waste dump. The dump threatens water contamination
for over 22 million people, and destroys critical habitat for the desert
tortoise. Economic analyses show that the dump would be financially
unviable. If you would like to support this letter, please contact Save
Ward Valley at swvl@ctaz.com or 760/326-6267 for a copy of the letter or
to sign on by December 5.
To subscribe or unsubscribe, please send a message to
wafcdc@americanlands.org along with your complete contact information
(name, org, address & phone #)
Steve Holmer
Campaign Coordinator
American Lands
726 7th Street, SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
202/547-9105
202/547-9213 fax
wafcdc@americanlands.org