Letter: Preserve

Published 12:15 am Thursday, June 27, 2024

Thank you, Sue Skinner (The Astorian, June 18), and all of the other supporters for saving our forests. Having read in The Astorian about these potential losses to our county, it appears the most important aspect of logging is money.

Our environment, our legacy for future generations and maintaining the inherent beauty of our land seems less important than the money logging outfits make cutting trees, and having them loaded onto ships sailing to the Far East. Then the finished lumber and plywood comes back to us at inflated prices and often of poor quality, partially from the processing and from removing immature trees.

The Oregon Department of Forestry has many goals for the protection of our land for all citizens, the water resources and the protection of specific animals and fish. Many of the objectives have been modified since the implementation in the early 1970s, mostly to address citizen concerns and the increase in environmental issues. On their website, one of the goals is forest practices monitoring program. It is nonspecific as to how this is to be managed, or to whom there is accountability.

We need to preserve areas like Mothball Hill and Davis Ridge. Otherwise, logging will demolish the logging industry, much as fishing is no longer the financial contributor to Clatsop County as in the past.

PRISCILLA LOWE BELIN

Astoria