In the Pacific Northwest, less than 15% of our original old growth forest ecosystems remain. (Norse, E. 1989 Ancient Forests of the Pacific Northwest. Island Press, Washington, DC.)

Although the Northwest Forest Plan decreased logging by 80%, the Forest Service continues to use mature and old-growth forests for 90% of their timber volume. (USDA Forest Service, 1993, Portland, OR.)

One million acres of mature and old-growth forest is available for logging on federal public land in the Pacific Northwest. (US Dept. of Agriculture, Washington DC, 2000).

This year alone over 150 timber sales threaten to destroy some of remaining mature and old-growth forest. (US Forest Service, various Environmental Assessments).

Nearly 70% of Northwest residents support protecting mature and old-growth forests on federal lands. A similar majority in rural, resource-based counties also support such protection (David, Hibbits, and McCaig, 2002).

In Sept of 2001, seven prominent forest ecologists wrote the Forest Service requesting permanent protection for mature and old-growth forests. Last February, several Northwest natural resource economists made the same recommendation. (to see their letters visit www.nwoldgrowth.org).

Only 6 mills in western Oregon and western Washington are dependent on federal timber to any significant degree. (Oregon Dept. of Forestry, 2000 and Washington Department of Natural Resources, 1996).

Numerous corporations and businesses across the nation have decided to get out of the business of using or selling old growth products. These corporations have responded to the public concern and now we must ask our federal government to do the same.