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- Path: sparky!uunet!news.tek.com!master!freddy!mikeq
- From: mikeq@freddy.CNA.TEK.COM (Mike Quigley)
- Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
- Subject: Re: USFS Backcountry Fees
- Message-ID: <3928@master.CNA.TEK.COM>
- Date: 19 Nov 92 18:32:50 GMT
- References: <1ecdfjINNn00@morrow.stanford.edu> <24076@hacgate.SCG.HAC.COM>
- Sender: news@master.CNA.TEK.COM
- Distribution: usa
- Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Redmond, OR.
- Lines: 36
-
- In article <24076@hacgate.SCG.HAC.COM> tucker@shiva.UUCP (George Tucker) writes:
- >
- >The Forest Service does provide emergency services and information,
-
- Information, yes. Emergency services, no. That's provided by county
- search and rescue organizations.
-
- >It isn't going to reduce logging,
- >though, unless they see a profit from hikers in logging areas.
-
- Profits from other sources has no impact on logging. Example:
-
-
- In the Deschutes National Forest, the Matsutake mushroom grows only
- off the roots of mature (old growth) ponderosa pine. The Matsutake
- is considered a delicacy overseas, commanding over $100/pound.
-
- The DNF makes more money off selling permits to harvest the Matsutake
- than it does from selling the logs to timber companies (at
- taxpayer subsidized prices).
-
- EVEN SO, it continues to sell the very logs that these mushrooms
- depend upon for survival.
-
- Many mycologists fear for the future of the Matsutake because
- all the old growth stands of ponderosa in the DNF will be gone within five
- to 10 years if the present rate of cut continues. Then,
- no more Matsutakes, and no more old growth ponderosa.
-
- It's called the politics of extinction.
-
- Mike
-
- (I'd better quit now before I start in on the USFS's cozy ``phantom forest''
- deal with congress! Better enjoy the ancient forests now. They won't
- be there for your kids!)
-