Lance
03-18-2003, 04:20 PM
It looks like the tree huggers are getting to the US forest service. Where will we lose our next chunks of habitat???
RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY MEDIA RELEASE:
US FOREST SERVICE ABANDONS WILDLIFE PROTECTION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dan Dessecker
March 17th, 2003 715-234-8302
rgsdess@chibardun.net
The George Washington - Jefferson National Forest in Virginia is proposing to drastically limit habitat restoration for wildlife that require young forests. The recently released draft Forest Plan states that young forest habitats will comprise no more than 1% of the Forest, a total broadly recognized as insufficient to meet the needs of game and nongame wildlife. This wildlife includes the golden-winged warbler, which is one of the most imperiled songbirds in the eastern United States, as well as the ruffed grouse, indigo bunting, yellow-breasted chat, and many other species.
According to Bob Patterson, Executive Director of the Ruffed Grouse Society, "The Forest Service has ignored the very best science, ignored the very best scientists, and ignored the needs of forest wildlife."
In November 1999, wildlife agency directors from 5 southeastern states encouraged the Forest Service to increase habitat management efforts geared toward wildlife that need thick, young forest habitats. In October 2002, the Southeastern Section of The Wildlife Society passed a resolution urging the Forest Service to return to a balanced approach to wildlife conservation on National Forests by increasing the management activities required to sustain important young forest habitats.
"Fifty-three percent of the songbirds that nest in young forest habitats in the southern Appalachians are suffering population declines as a direct result of habitat loss," says Patterson, "and ruffed grouse are becoming increasingly rare. It is irresponsible for the Forest Service to so completely turn its back on forest wildlife and our hunting heritage."
The Ruffed Grouse Society is a nonprofit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to promoting science-based forest stewardship. (www.ruffedgrousesociety.org)
Dan Dessecker
Senior Wildlife Biologist
Ruffed Grouse Society
715-234-8302
RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY MEDIA RELEASE:
US FOREST SERVICE ABANDONS WILDLIFE PROTECTION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dan Dessecker
March 17th, 2003 715-234-8302
rgsdess@chibardun.net
The George Washington - Jefferson National Forest in Virginia is proposing to drastically limit habitat restoration for wildlife that require young forests. The recently released draft Forest Plan states that young forest habitats will comprise no more than 1% of the Forest, a total broadly recognized as insufficient to meet the needs of game and nongame wildlife. This wildlife includes the golden-winged warbler, which is one of the most imperiled songbirds in the eastern United States, as well as the ruffed grouse, indigo bunting, yellow-breasted chat, and many other species.
According to Bob Patterson, Executive Director of the Ruffed Grouse Society, "The Forest Service has ignored the very best science, ignored the very best scientists, and ignored the needs of forest wildlife."
In November 1999, wildlife agency directors from 5 southeastern states encouraged the Forest Service to increase habitat management efforts geared toward wildlife that need thick, young forest habitats. In October 2002, the Southeastern Section of The Wildlife Society passed a resolution urging the Forest Service to return to a balanced approach to wildlife conservation on National Forests by increasing the management activities required to sustain important young forest habitats.
"Fifty-three percent of the songbirds that nest in young forest habitats in the southern Appalachians are suffering population declines as a direct result of habitat loss," says Patterson, "and ruffed grouse are becoming increasingly rare. It is irresponsible for the Forest Service to so completely turn its back on forest wildlife and our hunting heritage."
The Ruffed Grouse Society is a nonprofit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to promoting science-based forest stewardship. (www.ruffedgrousesociety.org)
Dan Dessecker
Senior Wildlife Biologist
Ruffed Grouse Society
715-234-8302