 By Bob Pickrell April 14, 2007
I was the secretary-manager of the Alaska Loggers Association way back in 1961-65 and am fully knowledgeable of the remarkable regrowth that we experiance in S.E. Alaska. The overemphasis by radical PRESERVATIONISTS concerning OLD-NO-GROWTH forests and nonexistant endangered species (the infamous Alexander Arc Wolfdog and the end of it's range Goshawk) has literally eliminated a logical approach to good forest management. The Tongass Futures Roundtable is a laughable group. TCS, SEACC, and all the other groups will hound you for a "compromise" but will break whatever promises they made when they file the next lawsuit in court. Meanwhile the forest, which should be cut, languishes and rots. Our forests will easily support a 450-500 million annual board feet harvest and be the better for it. That's proven. 350 million is bowing to the preservationists but if that's all we can get....DO IT! Incidentally, I wouldn't trade
one logger for one hundred preservationists, no, make that a
thousand! They were the producers, like the miners, farmers,
fishermen. GO FOR ALTERNATIVE 7 and maybe we'll get a few back
before they are no longer a "specie." Bob Pickrell About: "Former manager of the Alaska Loggers Association (1961-65) Publisher of New Alaska Magazine which covered S.E. Alaska from '65 to "92. Ketchikan "Citizen of the Year"...1996 - Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assemblyman, Chairman Alaska Board of Reapportionment plus numerous committies (local and statewide)" and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sitnews.
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