REPORT: Tree huggers, beware

You may be in danger of a "reintroduction!" 

The USDA Forest Service recently released a report entitled Science Supporting the Economic and Environmental Benefits of Using Wood and Wood Products in Green Building Construction. It states that, "The use of wood as a building material can provide substantial economic and environmental benefits to our nation's citizens." The authors use a lot of big words to tell us that it is possible to cut down trees and use them to build things and new trees will grow up in their place without harming the environment. In fact, they hold that sustainable forest management even improves the environment. They quote Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell as saying, "Our country has the resources, the work force, and the innovative spirit to ‘reintroduce' (my quotes) wood products into all aspects of the next generation of buildings..." "Our progress in this area will also help maintain rural jobs." How many ex-loggers and mill workers who live around here do you suppose are saying, "gee whiz, why didn't I think of that?" About now? What a concept. Utilize the forests that cover 40 percent of our state and put people back to work make things right here at home at the same time.

Why shoot folks, with this kind of constructive thinking on the part of public land managers, who knows what might happen? The next thing you know, they're probably going to tell us that it's OK to graze cattle on public lands and "reintroduce" a healthy livestock industry back into our economy. With beef to feed, we'll then have to divert corn presently being used up manufacturing government-subsidized ethanol and "reintroduce" it back into livestock feed. Do you reckon that might put a few ex-cowboys back to work? It might even staunch the daily flow of Canadian cattle trucks roaring down Highway 53 on their way to the slaughterhouse down in Pasco. Wouldn't it be nice to see your hamburger stamped with Product of USA again instead of Product of USA or Canada?

You know what, "the Economic and Environment Benefits" of scientifically utilizing the bountiful resources nature has provided us here in Idaho could lead to all kinds of ramifications. For instance, what about "reintroducing" the 3.3 million acre Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area and surrounding other roadless public land back into productive use. Why do we the public own 3.3 million acres of land that most of us can't even access, anyway? Perhaps we could call it the Frank Church River of No Return Productive Resource Area. What do you think old Frank would think of that? If he was around to see what a shambles our economy has become in recent years, he might just approve.

Psst Tree Huggers. Even if the chainsaws start to roar again, don't you think there will be jobs for you making sure things are done in an environmentally friendly way?

BOB LaRUE

Hauser