I am also very much interested in the proper scientific manage- 

 ment of this region. As you know, because you also participated in 

 it, we drafted a Forest Management Act nearly 20 years ago which 

 was intended to provide for the scientific management of resources 

 such as this. 



I will Eiffirm, and I sincerely believe it, that this bill would not 

 have been necessary if the mandate of the National Forest Manage- 

 ment Act, which we worked so painstakingly on a generation ago, 

 had been faithfully carried out. That mandate was not carried out. 



The forests, not only these but others, were systematically over- 

 cut, frequently under below-cost timber sale contracts. As a result, 

 we now have a situation in which various sections of our forests in 

 the West as well as in other areas of the country are threatened, 

 and other endangered species and precious ecological treasures are 

 likewise threatened by a failure to properly carry out the mandate 

 of the National Forest Management Act. 



This bill seeks to reverse that situation by establishing a pro- 

 tected preserve for this particularly valuable and threatened eco- 

 system. The main purpose of it is to foster the scientific manage- 

 ment of that treasure, and at the same time to emphasize and to 

 enhance the multipurpose resources of that area, with a particular 

 focus not only on the scientific use of the area but the recreational 

 use and other uses. It will not be completely closed to other uses 

 of this resource, although they will be managed much more care- 

 fully under this legislation than they are at the present time. 



So what I am asking the subcommittee to do is to help us to per- 

 fect this bill. I do not contend that this legislation, any more than 

 any other legislation, was bom perfect from my mind or from the 

 mind of any Congressman. It is, however, I think, a valuable start- 

 ing point to consider how we can best secure the aims of this bill. 

 I think my primary purpose here this morning is not to elaborate 

 on the details, because there are others here far more qualified 

 than I am to do that, but to emphasize repeatedly the importance 

 and the priority of doing this. 



We have here one of the world's most unique ecosystems. It is 

 part of a fragile environment which is under continued threat. 

 Steps need to be taken to protect not only the entire Sierra eco- 

 system but this particular part of it in order that it can remain and 

 become even more a focus for global attention and study and enjoy- 

 ment by tourists and others from all over the world, as it is today 

 but not nearly to the extent that it should be. 



We think that this can be accomplished with no economic harm 

 to the region. There are a limited number of jobs based upon the 

 exploitation of the timber resource, probably a few hundred. These 

 jobs are maintained with a subsidy from below-cost sales of about 

 $8 million a year. 



We believe that eliminating those below-cost timber sales and en- 

 hancing the recreational and other legitimate uses of the region 

 will tremendously add to the economic contribution that this land 

 will make to the people of California and to the United States, and 

 we urge that it be developed in that way. 



In addition to that, of course, we are providing in this legislation 

 for certain economic steps which will protect the right of local gov- 

 ernment agencies to continue to draw in-lieu resources, tax re- 



