Subject: FW: SW BIODIVERSITY ALERT #27

Subject: SW BIODIVERSITY ALERT #27

* ************* Southwest Biodiversity Alert #27 *****************
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*            southwest center for biological diversity           *
*                      ksuckling@sw-center.org                   *
*             http://www.envirolink.org/orgs/sw-center           *
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SPOTTED OWL, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, OLD GROWTH PLAN APPEALED-
PLAN ALLOWS STEEP SLOPE & OLD GROWTH LOGGING ON 11 NATIONAL FORESTS

The Southwest Center, the Southwest Forest Alliance and Forest
Conservation Council have appealed a Forest Service decision to amend
all 11 National Forest Plans in Arizona and New Mexico to incorporate
new conservation plans for the Mexican spotted owl and the Northern
goshawk. The amendments also changed regional old growth definitions
and allocation procedures, and removed limitations on timber sale
scheduling.

The amendments would have instituted an "ecosystem" approach to
goshawk management. They ignore the demonstrated habitat
requirements of the goshawk, in favor of the habitat needs of
potential prey species. While goshawks favor large, unfragmented
tracts of mature and old growth forest, the potential prey species,
can survive in a highly fragmented mixture of young forest, old forest,
and openings. The Forest Service plan calls for fragmenting the
entire ponderosa, mixed-conifer and spruce-fir forest landscape into
1-4 patches, except within spotted owl core area and goshawk nest
stands.

The amendments also allow continued logging of old growth ponderosa
pine and steep slope logging. Both were prohibitied by the analysis
in the Final EIS, but were removed without public notice after
objections from the timber industry.

The amendments allow grazing damage to continue across all 11
National Forests even though the final EIS determined it would cause
adverse effect to listed species and trends toward listing in other
riparian and aquatic species.

All timber harvesting in the Southwest has be enjoined since August,
1995 pending the completion of a Biological Opinion on the
amendments. A successful appeal and/or litigation would likely
require a new alternative, a new Biological Opinion and a
continuation of the injunction.