The Spotted Owl, the Forests Products Industry, and the...

The Spotted Owl, the Forests Products Industry, and the Public Policy I. Introduction A. The Spotted Owl B. Logging Industry II. Conflicts of Interest A. Economic needs 1.Unemployment B. Preservation Needs 1.Endangered Species Act 2.Special Interest Groups III. Resolutions A. Possible Solutions B. Eventual Outcome 1. Loss of Interest a. Other Species Demand Attention 2. Migration 3. Repopulation Abstract The spotted owl was seen as a symbol of all things environmental during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The logging industry was well on its way to destroying most of the old growth forests of the Pacific Northwest. Environmentalists swarmed the area, sabotaging logging efforts and calling†¦show more content†¦Many people have wondered why this insignificant owl gets more press than the decimation of salmon streams nationwide, when it would have no economic impact on our society as a whole. The logging industry has made millions of dollars from the harvesting of old growth lumber over the past several decades. Recently, they have become more responsible about clear-cut logging. Harvested forests are often replanted to provide for future wildlife habitat and logging efforts. However, this doesnt help the spotted owl. It needs old growth forests with their tangle of massive trees and thick dense brush. The logging industry is threatened by this small owl. Thousands of jobs have been lost. Families are starving. Lumber prices have skyrocketed. So this sets up a struggle. Loggers need the lumber for economic prosperity. Environmentalists want to protect this owl. How will both parties win? Can both parties win? There are many issues that arise out of this conflict. The public needs cost efficient lumber. The loggers need their jobs. The spotted owl needs a home. One of the largest concerns, dealing with the spotted owl / forest industry debate, is the loss of jobs. There were 21,000 jobs lost during the time that this debate took place (Ross, 1999). The amount of job losses in the logging and milling industry at this time were not solely attributed to the spotted owl controversy. The downward trend in the timber harvest