To the Sentinel:
I was disappointed by the recent editorial “Why Oregon is in trouble.” The references made by the writer toward the timber industry need to be addressed.
Oregon is timber country and always will be, due to the excellent management of our federal, state and private forests. Trees grow better and faster in Oregon than anywhere else in the world. The industry has harvested trees and replanted them for more than 100 years. The fact is that for every tree harvested, five to seven new trees are planted in their place ensuring healthy forests forever.
When the writer states, “companies extracted precious resources after they cut all their own timber — they even cut on public land,” it is very misleading indeed! The accurate statement would be, “Timber was harvested and used for houses and 7,000 other things used in our daily lives.” The harvested area was then replanted for the next rotation. The money from the timber sales provided jobs, schools, roads and public safety for more than 100 years. Then the federal forests were locked up due to politics. Our state is in the worst economic condition we have ever been in since the Depression. We need the forests to provide jobs.
God gave us these forests for the beauty, wildlife and resource to use and enjoy, while caring for them with good management.

Gary Foglio
Florence