POLICY SUMMARY:
land exchanges and intermingled private lands
Home
About the FWOC
Join the FWOC
Member Organizations
Adopted Resolutions
Outdoors West
Officers
Current List of Conservation Developments with Bush Administration
History
Policy Summary
Convention Schedule
Related Links
Site Map
FEDERATION OF WESTERN OUTDOOR CLUBS
next >>
The timber industry is using land exchanges as a way to avoid environmental restrictions. Trading is used to obtain ownership of the last remnants of publicly-owned old-growth forests. If it in the public interest to obtain private checkerboard lands, then Congress should provide the funds for purchasing them. [Res. 13, 2002]
Issues often arise over proposed land exchanges where private owners want to acquire timber on government land in exchange for private land which has been cut over or contains young timber; in such cases appraisals are difficult. Where differences exist with respect to timber volume and value, private lands that are intermingled with public lands should be purchased (using treasury funds) rather than be exchanged to block up public holdings. Publicly owned lands with high conservation values should not be exchanged. Exchanges should only be made, in any event, when information on timber volumes, types, and values (including ecological values) is made readily available to the public. [Res. 25, 2001]
The exchange proposed in the Umpqua National Forest by the timber industry is not in the public interest. Over 675,000 acres in thee Umpqua River drainage in western Oregon would be affected. Prime forest land of both national forest and BLM would be traded for cut over private land. The only values to be considered will be the number of board feet involved. This exchange should not take place. [Res. 13, 2002]
A land exchange proposed between Plum Creek Timber Company and the Forest Service in the Washington Cascades illustrates points that should guide such land exchanges. The federal lands being traded should consist of forest lands that area already roaded or fragmented. The lands being traded should all be within the same ecoregion or state. Where possible, the Forest Service should utilize "cash equalization" funds to reduce the amount of national forest lands that must be traded, and the Forest Service should prepare a full Environmental Impact Statement on the exchange. The company getting federal lands should agree to comply with landscape plans in force for the area it acquires, as well as develop appropriate Habitat Conservation Plans for the area (with full public involvement). While the exchange is pending, roadless lands being offered to the federal government should not be opened up with roads, with only selective logging on lands already accessible. Very sensitive lands (i.e., adjacent to designated wilderness areas) should be donated in recognition of the limited use that should be made of such tracts. [This case involved 40,000 acres between Mt. Rainier and the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.] [Res. 13, 1996]
In the case of the so-called I-90 exchange in Washington state, the highest priorities for public acquisition are roadless lands, late successional forests and salmon streams, which contain critical habitat and provide a connection between the North and South Cascades (which are severely stressed). In this exchange, the Forest Service should acquire 50,000 acres of Plum Creek land and should not relinquish marbled murrelet nesting habitat in the Green River Valley, or classic old growth near Randle. Where necessary, Congress should provide additional appropriated funds to acquire land by purchase, or to equalize values in the trade. Priority should be given to purchasing lands along the Carbon, Tieton, and Yakima Rivers and for the protection of roadless areas near Skykomish and Cle Elum.
The Forest Service should not issue new easements for timber companies to build logging roads across public lands (especially roadless areas). Where no other means of access is available, timber companies should pay for such easements and mitigate damage (including replacing lost habitat but at higher compensation ratios to account for fragmentation).
If I-90 is expanded, all adverse impacts must be mitigated, and crossings for wildlife should be provided (as well as modifying bridges for better fish passage). The upper end of Keechelus Lake should be restored to provide a forested corridor connecting with Gold Greek. [Res. 31, 1999]
Issues often arise over proposed land exchanges where private owners want to acquire timber on government land in exchange for private land which has been cut over or contains young timber; in such cases appraisals are difficult. Where differences exist with respect to timber volume and value, private lands that are intermingled with public lands should be purchased (using treasury funds) rather than be exchanged to block up public holdings. Publicly owned lands with high conservation values should not be exchanged. Exchanges should only be made, in any event, when information on timber volumes, types, and values (including ecological values) is made readily available to the public. [Res. 25, 2001]
The Cascade Conservation Partnership, which aims to raise funds to purchase and protect more than 75,000 acres of privately owned forests in Washington state, should be supported. The checkerboard pattern of these lands arose out of original railroad land grants. Acquisition of these lands will enhance wildlife corridors between the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and Mt. Rainier National Park. This project aims at protecting most of the remaining old growth forests left on private land in this region, as well as 26 miles of riparian zone, 15 lakes, and more than 45 miles of hiking trail. [Res. 32, 2001]
next >>