The Forest Service recently embarked upon a new management philosophy called 

 "Ecosystem Management." I suggest the Black Hills ecosystem needs more; not less, 

 active vegetation manipulation and control, because we have too many pine trees. 

 Benign neglect only results in outbreaks of bark beetles and more severe wildfires. 

 Active management will result in a healthier and safer forest, and a strong econo- 

 my, which is a win-win situation for everyone. 



I haven't yet mentioned wilderness areas. Let me do so briefly. I do not support 

 additional wilderness areas for two primary reasons: First the works of man are so 

 prevalent in the Black Hills there is really no true wilderness left to preserve; and 

 second, because a true wilderness must be natural. Without the free reign of fire, no 

 wilderness area in the Black Hills will be natural. But we cannot allow fire to burn 

 unchecked. 



Also, I am not convinced wilderness areas will attract additional tourists to the 

 Black Hills, but I do know they could adversely affect ranching, timbering and our 

 most popular forms of recreation. 



On balance, I am convinced that further designation of wilderness areas will 

 harm, rather than help, the economy and will be detrimental to a healthy forest 

 ecosystem. 



Multiple use has worked for us — it is working for us and will continue working 

 for us if we all cooperate to make sure it is working right. 



Adding to Governor Mickelson's remarks, let me make a few closing observations: 



1. Every tree presently standing in the existing Black Elk Wilderness Area 

 and any future wilderness area will one day die a natural death. This is fact. 



2. As described by Custer and Dodge, the most likely agent of death will be 

 wildfire. I add that the second most likely cause of death will be an epidemic of 

 mountain pine beetle. 



3. Wilderness designation in the Black Hills, then, is really a management 

 option to accept stand replacing catastrophe as the regulating force in these 

 areas. 



4. This management option jeopardizes both public and private lands in the 

 vicinity of the wilderness areas since obviously these agents of massive destruc- 

 tion do not respect artificial boundaries. This management option also guaran- 

 tees the areas will not forever remain in their present condition to be passed on 

 from generation to generation as some seem to expect. 



5. So far as the 10-year Forest Plan is concerned, I agree with our late Gover- 

 nor Mickelson and our present Governor Miller. Virtually every acre of this Na- 

 tional Forest needs some form of management to keep it in a vigorous, healthy 

 aesthetically pleasing and productive condition. The Forest Plan should recog- 

 nize this and it should be reflected in the size of the timber program. 



Senator Pressler. Thank you very much. 

 Mr. Sylva. 



STATEMENT OF STANLEY SYLVA, RESOURCE STAFF OFFICER, 

 BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST; REPRESENTING SECRETARY 

 MIKE ESPY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Mr. Sylva. Mr. Chairman, I'm Stanley Sylva here representing 

 the Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service. Thank 

 you for the opportunity to address the possible effects of the Black 

 Hills National Forest Management Plan Revision, including wilder- 

 ness proposals on small business in this area. 



The Black Hills National Forest provides commodities such as 

 timber, minerals, forage, and amenities such as recreation and wil- 

 derness experiences, wildlife habitat, soil and water resources, and 

 other environmental benefits. In fiscal year 1992, we returned over 

 4.1 million dollars to the States and counties from receipts generat- 

 ed from the sale of timber and other forest activities. Through our 

 State and Private Forestry Program, we provided $595,000 in feder- 

 al financial assistance. Also, more than 2,100 jobs were created in 

 South Dakota and Wyoming from our timber sale program. 



The current forest plan was approved by the regional forester in 

 1983. In accordance with the requirements of the National Forest 



