Poll shows broad support for balance in the Columbia Highlands
Northeast Washington Forestry Coalition has a plan that could make history for the Colville National Forest. Their groundbreaking collaboration between timber, conservation, recreation, and community groups seeks to end the timber wars of the past, create recreation opportunities, and protect some of its most beautiful roadless areas and important wildlife habitat. The Coalition knows it has a good thing in this plan, but it's always a good idea to check your instincts and experience against some good old Science.
A recent poll shows support across geographic and party lines for a balanced plan for the Colville National Forest that would increase thinning and restoration, create new trails, and preserve roadless areas, like this one in Owl Mountain. Photo: E Zamora
Northeast Washington Forestry Coalition has a plan that could make history for the Colville National Forest. Their groundbreaking collaboration between timber, conservation, recreation, and community groups seeks to end the timber wars of the past, create recreation opportunities, and protect some of its most beautiful roadless areas and important wildlife habitat.
The Coalition knows it has a good thing in this plan, but it's always a good idea to check your instincts and experience against some good old Science.
So--echoing the collaborative nature of the Coalition--they engaged one Republican and one Democratic pollster to find out what Northeast Washington thinks of their plan. We are glad to report the survey results galvanize this groundbreaking effort!
The cross-section of voters in northeastern WA voiced strong support for the Coalition's balanced plan, which includes new wilderness areas, increased forest thinning and restoration, and new trails and recreation opportunities.
57% of the people polled support the plan, including majorities of Democrats, Republicans, Independents, rural and urban voters, hunters, and even ORV riders. How many campaigns can boast that high a percentage of support across party and cultural lines in America today? The Coalition's hard work over the decade to create common ground and find working solutions for the Forest has obviously paid off.
“The Coalition is taking the right approach,” said Russ Vaagen of Vaagen Brothers Lumber, Coalition vice president. “People want a balanced approach and wise use of our forest that creates jobs, provides access, and takes care of wildlife and our special places.” The poll backs up that assertion, as pollster Mark Mellman points out,
“Overwhelming majorities of hunters, anglers and off-road vehicle users favored the proposal...A majority of respondents overall supported protecting some of the Forest’s very best areas as wilderness.”
People across party lines responded well to the idea of preserving the region's heritage of hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking, as well as protecting prisitine backcountry and natural heritage for the next generation.
The Colville National Forest and the Columbia Highlands are home to amazing rare wildlife, like the mountain caribou and Canada lynx, and some of the most beautiful and diverse wildlands found anywhere in the Northwest. Yet only 1% of Washington’s designated wilderness sits in the northeast corner of the state.
With such strong public support and an active Coalition of partners working together to move this plan forward, now is the time to protect the Columbia Highland’s crown jewel wild country like the Kettle Crest for future generations. Won't you join the majority by voicing your support for a blanced plan for the Columbia Highlands?
[More on the poll from Northeast Washington Forestry Coalition and Spokesman Review] [On YouTube, From Controversy to Common Ground]
