Headlines:Court Halts Massive Montana Logging Project Threatening Grizzlies And Old Forests
MISSOULA, Mont., August 18, 2023 – In a significant victory for conservation efforts, a federal judge has ruled against the controversial Black Ram logging project in Montana’s Kootenai National Forest. The project posed a serious threat to a vulnerable population of grizzly bears near the Montana-Canada border.
The decision, made by U.S. District Court Judge Donald W. Molloy, came after a lawsuit was filed by various conservation groups in June 2022, challenging the project's impact on the environment and wildlife. Judge Molloy sided with the conservationists, finding that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service disregarded the decline of the Cabinet-Yaak population of grizzlies, and that the U.S. Forest Service failed to address the harm caused by illegal use of motorized vehicles.
The proposed Black Ram project aimed to log nearly 4,000 acres of the Kootenai National Forest, including clearcutting over 1,700 acres and harvesting centuries-old trees. This would have destroyed vital habitat for a delicate population of about 25 grizzly bears in the Yaak Valley, while also raising concerns about increased human conflict and bear mortality due to constant truck traffic.
"This ruling is a huge victory," remarked Adam Rissien, ReWilding Manager with WildEarth Guardians. "The court recognized the importance of mature and old growth forests in carbon storage, a factor that the Forest Service failed to properly consider. It's also a win for the small grizzly bear population in the Yaak Valley."
Ted Zukoski, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, expressed his satisfaction, stating, "This decision reaffirms that agencies cannot disregard the vulnerability of critical wildlife populations and the climate consequences of clearcutting mature forests."
The court's ruling prohibits the U.S. Forest Service from proceeding with the Black Ram project, which was slated to span a decade. The decision underscores the need to prioritize habitat protection and conservation over large-scale logging, particularly in areas of ecological importance.
The 2.2 million-acre Kootenai National Forest is home to a diverse range of species, including wolves, Canada lynx, wolverines, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and black bears. The preservation of mature and old-growth trees is vital for carbon sequestration and wildlife habitat.
See also
Sources
- Court Scraps Massive Montana Logging Project Threatening Grizzlies, Old Forests The Center for Biological Diversity
Notes
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