When I read a recent article about Sen. Jon Tester's "Forest Jobs and Recreation Act" and how it all started, I can't understand what is being criticized. For decades, Montana's loggers, conservationists and motorized users have been in serious conflict. As the article said, over the last 25 years there has been no new wilderness and no logs for the mills. Because of the timber wars, management became stagnant - nothing changed to alleviate these contentious issues.
Our forests, however, have changed tremendously over the last 25 years, and not always for the better. We now have severe pine beetle infestation, wildfires become more and more threatening to our communities, our wild landscapes are not being protected, and our mills - along with their communities - are dying.
Now, Montana has groups working together who actually care about one another and who care about our forests, mills, our wildlands, and our communities. Finally, we have a senator with enough courage and enough gumption to make changes and better our forests. The Forest Bill may not be perfect in the eyes of many, and no one group will get everything it wants. However, if we do not work together or give up our fights of the past, what does the next 25 years hold for us? This future is not promising, and not a future I am willing to support.
We live in this state and for a good reason. Let's take control of our future and make sure that our children and our grandchildren know more about good forest management and less about the timber wars. I support Montanans working together, and that is why I support Tester's Forest Jobs and Recreation Act.
Walter Walsh,
Helena
