Wilderness being sought by coalition

When you think of forest issues, you often think of diametrically opposed viewpoints between environmentalists and the timber industry that results in gridlock.

One organization is trying to change that.

The North East Washington forestry coalition has worked for the past eight years to find common ground between groups that have for years battled over management of the regions forests. In that time the group managed to agree to increase timber harvest in the region, while at the same time increase environmentally sound management practices.

Now that diverse organization is pushing an initiative that seeks to designate new wilderness areas in the region, as well as Conservation and Recreation areas.

Russ Vaggan of Vaggan Brothers timber company says the conservation and recreation areas would gain some protections, such as restrictions on development,and whole scale logging operations, while at the same time allow for some activities not allowed in wilderness areas:

"There is mixed use in those areas and they may not be suited for wilderness, or active management but there are other uses, like motorized recreation, mountain bikes, so those areas still need some form of protection. So we need to give those areas a designation that is suitable for that"

For businessman John Eminger of 49 Degrees North Ski area, the agreement between such diverse groups to put together the proposal includes reasonable balance:

"If you just focus on the economic, you're missing the environmental. And when I see the coalition and the plan I see the ability create a balanced plan, there's a wilderness area right next to the ski resort, and what a benefit to the ski resort both economically and environmentally."

The initiative proposal would have to be approved by the U-S Congress to be adopted. Both Democratic U-S Senator Maria Cantwell, and Republican U-S Representative Cathy McMorris have been supporters of the Northeast Forestry Coalition's efforts.