Administration response to timber summit is awaited by opposing sides

With about 30 days to go, both the forest industry and the environmentalist faction are uneasily awaiting the long-tenn, balanced solution to their problems promised by President Bill Clinton at the timber summit. Both sides fear the other has an advantage.

Northwest Forestry Association President Jim Geisinger commented, "The President's pledge to offer an action plan within 60 days feassures us that he appreciates the urgency of the issue. Working in a bi-partisan fashion with the region's congressional delegation, the White House can forge a balanced resolution to this crisis."

Compromise is less than acceptable to some. Andy Kerr, conservation director for the Oregon Natural Resources Council, emphasized that preservationist groups were not willing to compromise and would continue to block federal timber sales with legal action.

Clinton promised to direct his administration to develop a strategy for a long-term, balanced solution. He also said he would direct each affected federal agency to locate and resolve contradictory policies and positions. He stressed the need to consider hrmran and economic opportunities in creating a plan that would also protect forest ecosystems.

The April 2 Forest Conference in Portland, Or., followed a roundcable fornat with panels of industry, labor, environmental and scientific representatives from the affected areas. "Who Is Affected and How," "Ecological and Economic Assessments" and "'Where Do We go From Here" were discussed for the enlightenment of the President and Vice President Al Gore.

Interior Secretary Babbitt, Commerce Seoetary Brown, OMB Assistant Director Rivlin, Agriculture Secretary Espy, EPA Administrator Browner and Labor Secretarv Reich also took pafi.

As the daylong conference to address the forest management practices and protection of species conflict in the Pacific Northwest opened, President Clinton told participants he hoped the proceedings would help the nation confront pnoblems, not people, and sressed that govermnent agencies must work together to find cornmon ground in developing a solution that everyone could live with. As panelists addressed the questions, he cautioned them to avoid confrontation and instead collaborate in seeking a balanced solution.

An Old Tale Of Trees & Paper

Because Eees used to make paper are usually grown on tree farms and harvested at sustainable rates, recycling paper does not save wilderness forests.

Although virtually no paper is produced from ancient forests, the belief saving paper saves forests is widespread.

Only 2Vo of the respondents to a rccnnt consumer Reports survey gave the correct answer.