60 



Under the previous land management plans, the annual sale level in Region 6 

 (Oregon and Washington) was approximately 4.5 billion board feet. The new 

 land management plans approved in the late 1980's would have set the 

 annual sale level at approximately 2.9 billion board feet. However, the court 

 injunctions over the northern spotted owl and other appeals have sent the 

 Region 6 timber sale program into a major downward spiral - declining by 

 more than 90% from FY 90 to FY 92. I might note that the wood lumber 

 composite price has jumped 75% from October 1992 to February 1993. 

 There are a variety of opinions for the upward spike in lumber prices. 



Management intensity 



The new forest plans commit the Forest Service to very high levels of 

 intensive management to generate more timber yield. The plans include 

 genetically improved stock, site preparation, control of competing vegetation, 

 pre-commercial thinning, fertilization, and commercial thinning. Over 55% 

 of the acres project planting, pre-commercial thinning, fertilization, 

 commercial thinning, and final harvest while only 5% project only planting 

 and final harvest as shown in the following graph and table. 



NF BLM Slate Fl NIP 



Q Medium 

 B Low 



Graph 7-3 



Source: Sessions et a! 



However, to achieve such high levels of intensive management requires both 

 commitment and funding from the federal government. The funding for 



