My understanding of the silviculture, forestry professions and Depts of 
Forestry at the state and federal levels mission or goal or job is to 
manage trees for the needs of people.  Its right there in their mission 
statement usually.  Part of that may be beautiful areas to recreate or 
because people want to see wildlife as part of recreation but that seems 
to be sort of a while we are growing these trees we might as well sort 
of thing.  At the bottom of it all is the needs of people.  So wildlife 
and recreation needs may factor into decisions for awhile or in part but 
bottom line, people need houses, people need lumber.  Biodiversity over 
timber is unlikely to happen unless you can (1) decrease pressure from 
humans (2) find alternate sources of material that humans prefer.
Not saying that trying to change the Dept of Forestry management goals 
isn't a worthy endeavor but efforts to change the way people view new 
housing, population migration, population control would have a more long 
term permanent effect.  Concentrating on Dept of Forestry is a finger in 
the dike.

Marie Schatz.
Fairborn
> Date:    Sun, 20 Aug 2017 10:30:56 -0400
> From:    Cheryl Harner <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Forestry's Annual Plans - impacts birds and bird watching.
>
> Dear Fellow Bird Enthusiasts,
>
> Speaking as Conservation Chair for the Ohio Ornithological Society, we take the conservation of birds pretty seriously.  Sometimes that even requires our speaking up for trees.  Unfortunately, OOS members have experienced first-hand some questionable work in the past by Ohio Division of Forestry. Remember our members’ dismay over cuts in Shawnee Forest (at Picnic Point), at Hocking Hills (a clear-cut at the trail leading into a State Nature Preserve) and the cutting of pine for the pulp wood industry at the Historic Gorge Overlook in Mohican.  Forestry often cites “forest health” as their reason for cuts, but their past actions speak louder than their words.
>
> As a birding society, Ohio Ornithological Society has spoken out before: we are not against the timber industry or the timbering of private lands.  However, some of our public lands have suffered from poor judgment in the selection of timber cuts by the Ohio Division of Forestry.  We believe in this century, public forests should be considered as ecosystems and weight be placed on biodiversity over timber utility alone.  There is no shortage of timber, pallets, or pulpwood in Ohio.  If we never cut another stick of lumber off our Ohio Public Lands, the private timber industry in Ohio –currently producing 97% of Ohio’s timber products- is providing all the we need.
>
> Division of Forestry is currently holding Open Houses for their State Forests.  For more information about those, cut and paste this address into your web browser:
> http://www.outdoornews.com/2017/08/17/act-now-help-manage-state-forests/
>
> Meanwhile, please note naturalists and the local community have great concerns over the sweeping changes in the plans for Mohican Forest.  While much of the restoration of Mohican was done by planting non-native pines nearly a century ago, those novel ecosystems now offer habitat for nesting warblers and winter finches- as frequently noted on this list serve.  Perhaps, it is time to change our Mohican management plan towards more recreation, like birding, and less toward industrial forestry.
>
> If you enjoy bird watching in Mohican, perhaps you will be moved to speak up for habitat preservation, too.
>
> Mohican-Memorial State Forest Open House
> Monday, August 21, 2017 from 4:30-6:30 pm
> Mohican Lodge and Conference Center
> 1098 Ashland County Road 3006
> Perrysville, OH 44864
>
>
> Thank you,
> Cheryl Harner
> OOS Conservation Chair
>
> -

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