D. The ancient forest campaign in Oregon broadened about the time that legislation passed designating a number of wilderness areas on national forest lands in 1984. You took part in many of ONRC1s efforts to preserve both roadless areas and smaller groves containing ancient trees.
- What was the first wilderness issue to grab your attention upon coming to Oregon? Did you participate in the campaign to save French Pete? Why were just three areas in Oregon selected for consideration as part of the Endangered American Wilderness Act in 1978?
- Which aspects of the 1984 wilderness bill did you consider to be the most important while it was still in draft? How effective were ONRC staff and board members in influencing Senator Hatfield’s version of the bill? What effect did the input from field hearings have on the legislation? What role did you play in shaping ONRC1s position on the legislation? Do you think that there will ever be another wilderness bill enacted? Why?
- What non-wilderness issues concerning old-growth forests concerned you the most between 1976 and 1984? How did ONRC become so adept at evaluating forest plans and targeting certain timber sales to appeal? What factors brought ONRC to the forefront of so much litigation? How did the organization pay for its legal work?
- Which timber sales in southwest Oregon attracted the most attention from ONRC after 1984? Why did lands surrounding Crater Lake and Oregon Caves receive special attention? How successful was ONRC in calling attention to timber management practices on BLM and state forest land in this part of Oregon?
- How did the idea for a walking guide to Oregon’s . ancient forests originate? Had you previously helped William Sullivan with his Exploring Oregon’s Wild Areas? What led to the decision for ONRC to publish the walking guide? To what extent did you rely on information supplied by federal agencies in finding the areas featured in your book? which-areas became your favorites? How successful has the book been in political, educational, and financial terms?
- What led to your proposal for “Public Heritage” trees? Did it tie into increased cutting of eastside forests in the early 1990s? Has “ecosystem management” by federal agencies, in your view, led to noticeable improvements in perpetuating ancient forests? Have cultural resources ever entered into the Oregon ancient forest campaign, as they have in California? Has there been discussion of expanding the Cow Cops program to include ways to decrease timber theft on public lands?
