The Oregon Audubon Council passed the following resolutions regarding forest ecosystems:

1. Support research and administrative, legal, and legislative remedies necessary to ensure the continuation of unique ancient forest ecosystems.
2. Support enforcement and strengthening of the Northwest Forest Plan to better protect fish and wildlife habitat and other ecological values.
3. Urge enforcement and reform of Oregon's Forest Practices Act and Rules to better protect fish and wildlife habitat and other ecological values.
4. Endorse continued federal ownership and management for multiple resources consistent with ecological values on all revested Oregon and California Railroad lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
5. Endorse a stronger management plan to ensure future existence of Port Orford Cedar natural ecosystems free of Port Orford Root Rot.
6. Urge that decisions concerning forest management recognize that wind, fire, insects, and disease are natural elements of forest ecosystems. Endorse administrative legal and legislative remedies necessary to prevent inappropriate logging in areas such as the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Late Successional Forest Reserves, Critical Habitat Units, roadless areas, and riparian areas.
7. Support the development and application of management practices that promote ecological values, economic stability, and long-term productivity on public and private forest lands managed for timber production.

Each of these Conservation Concerns is followed by up to 14 suggested 'Council and Chapter Actions' regarding its implementation.

Portland Audubon has long been a leader in forest issues in the Northwest and nationwide. Portland Audubon Society v. Lujan, 712 F. Supp. 1456, 1485 (D. Or. 1989), helped lead to the restrictions on logging in the Pacific Northwest to protect the spotted owl by showing that the Forest Service was not complying with its legal obligations to study the impacts its logging activities were having on the species. Portland Audubon Society v. Babbitt, 998 F.2d at 708, established standing for environmental groups to challenge Timber Management Plans in court because they determine the volume and location future decisions which lead to timber sales. Portland Audubon is currently working to protect roadless areas and old growth forests around the country, exerting influence to improve management of the forests in eastern Oregon, opposing old growth timber sales on National Forests, and trying to improve state forest management rules. Portland Audubon manages an 80 acre forest reserve just outside of Portland, including trees up to 170 years old, where it will hosting an Ancient Forest Conference in 1999.

Contact:
Paul Ketcham
Conservation Director
5151 Northwest Cornell Road
Portland, OR 97219
(503) 292-6855 x110
(503) 292-1021 (fax)
email: general@audubonportland.org

Kalmiopsis Audubon is a very active chapter in the northern range of the Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion southwestern Oregon with a history of success opposing timber sales in nearby National Forests, particularly the Siskyou. They attribute much of their success to active involvement in the local political process. Kalmiopsis advocates for an end to commercial logging of federal forests.

Contact:
Jim Britell
Conservation Chair
PO Box 1349
Port Orford, OR 97465
(541) 332-9775
(541) 332-9702 (fax)
email: jbritell@harborside.com
http://www.britell.com/

These four Audubon chapters, joined by Kalmiopsis and Lane County Audubons, are combining efforts to defeat the Cold Springs / Switchback timber sales and the proposed Pelican Butte ski resort in a large wilderness complex in the Winema National Forest in southern Oregon. National Audubon Society was instrumental in defeating 4 timber sales in this roadless complex in 1991, setting the precedent for the Forest Service to study the impacts of timber sales on surrounding roadless areas rather than just the local impact of a timber sale. Now the Forest Service is resurrecting plans to log and develop this rare block of wildlands, which provide habitat for numerous sensitive species as well as many birds including the bald eagle. The $34 million, 5,200 acre ski resort would be built in a spotted owl old growth reserve, require a 2,000 car parking lot and receive up to 6,000 daily visitors. With the associated development in this currently rural area, this plan is a clear loser.

Contact:
Dennis Vroman
President
Siskiyou Audubon
269 Shetland Drive
Grants Pass, OR 97526-8857
email: dpvroman@cdsnet.net

Ralph Opp
Conservation Chair
Klamath Basin Audubon Society
2650 Memorial Drive
Kalmath Falls, OR 97601-5546
email: kfopps@mail.magick.net

Dan Gicker
Conservation Chair
Umpqua Valley Audubon
Roseburg, OR 97470
(541) 673-8293

Kathleen Donham
Membership Chair
Rogue Valley Audubon
3776 Devils Garden Road
Medford, OR 97504
(541) 772-5044
email: DYKC17A@prodigy.com

Lane County Audubon has been actively working toward improved management of forests in the Pacific Northwest. Lane County Audubon Society v. Cy Jamison, 958 F.2d 290, established that entire timber programs, not just individual timber sales, must be subject to review by the Fish and Wildlife Service when an endangered species (here the northern spotted owl) is likely to be affected. Lane County Audubon stopped, for a while at least, nearly 200 timber sales in spotted owl habitat. Lane County Audubon continues to be active on forest issues and is currently opposing a proposed ski resort in southern Oregon on Forest Service land (see below).

Contact:
Dave Stone
1230 1/2 W. 10th Avenue
Eugene, OR 97402-4706
(541) 683-6127
email: dns@efn.org