252 



Statement of Jim Owens 



Forests, Family Farms, and Energy Subcommittee 



September 10, 1992 



Page? 



the streams which sometimes run as far as 15 feet below the forest 

 floor, covered and hidden by giant redwoods which have fallen during 

 the past several hundred years. 



The virgin redwood forests which H.R. 2866 would protect are 

 separated from other andent forest groves by over 25 miles in any 

 direction. These forests and their riparian zones offer critical habitat 

 and biological corridors for the rich and abundant wildlife and plantlife 

 which thrives in these remaining core areas. They also offer the 

 anchor for a unique watershed which stretches from the crest of the 

 lower ridges of the Coast Range to the mouth of Salmon Creek, which 

 is protected in its lower reaches by the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife 

 Refuge. 



Others today will tell you about the history of the redwood 

 forests which were once owned by Pacific Lumber Company, and 

 which were bought by the Maxxam Corporation. You will hear of 

 junk-bonds, leveraged buyouts, doubled and tripled logging rates, 

 sacrificed pensions, and communities whose economies and futures 

 have been placed at risk by a company which has brought more strife 

 then peace to a region where the timber-wars are a daily reality. 



I'd like to quickly address the redwood resource which once 



