Number: 1998-08
WHEREAS, the National Forest Management Act requires the Forest Service to protect soils and watersheds on national forests; and
WHEREAS, Forest Service logging practices can alter forest habitat types and affect the composition of forests; and
WHEREAS, the General Accounting Office has documented that the Forest Service is losing money on its timber sale program; and
WHEREAS, off-budget funds, such as the Knutson-Vandenberg Fund, the Salvage Sale Fund, and the Brush Disposal Fund contain disincentives that encourage timber sales that lose money and cause ecological damage; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Service continues to allow logging in roadless areas on federal land;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in its Annual Meeting assembled on March 19-22, 1998, in Alexandria, Virginia, adopts the following principles:
- National forests should be managed to protect soils, watersheds, fish, wildlife, and recreation.
- Commodity uses of national forests should be conducted in a manner that protects ecological integrity.
- Logging practices on national forests should be consistent with principles No. 1 and No. 2, above.
- National forests should be managed to maintain the native mixture of species.
- National forests should not conduct timber sales that lose money except to provide sound forest management or restore ecosystems health and diversity; and national forest sales that generate profit should not sacrifice sustainability or ecological integrity.
- The Government Accounting Office should audit institutional incentives created by off-budget funds, such as Knutson-Vandenberg, Salvage Sale and Brush Disposal; and the Forest Service should ensure that these funds be used consistent with managing for biodiversity.
- Logging should not be allowed in roadless areas except to restore ecosystems health and diversity.