What good are What good are public forests public forests and wildlands to and wildlands to us? us?

Public forests provide endless Public forests provide endless recreational opportunities.recreational opportunities.

Recreation on the Wild & Scenic Rogue River brings in $13 million annually to the local economy.

Public forests provide clean drinking water for many Oregonians.Public forests provide clean drinking water for many Oregonians.

80% of Oregon’s drinking water originates on public forest land.

Public lands provide the best habitat for a huge variety of native Public lands provide the best habitat for a huge variety of native wildlife.wildlife.

Wildlife need large wildlands to survive or make a comeback.Wildlife need large wildlands to survive or make a comeback.

For nearly two decades Oregon Wild has focused on protecting and restoring the Klamath Basin's six wildlife refuges, removing dams from the Klamath River, bringing salmon back home to Oregon and promoting a common-sense program to resolve the conflict over water in the Klamath Basin.

Trout and salmon depend on old-growth forests to provide the clean, cold water they need for survival.

Oregon boasts some of the most amazing Oregon boasts some of the most amazing old-growth forests in the world.old-growth forests in the world.

Natural processes like fire, insects, disease, wind, and

weather all add diversity and structure to forests – which are constantly changing.

Only about one-tenth Only about one-tenth of Western Oregon’s public of Western Oregon’s public forests are now old-growth, forests are now old-growth, compared to up to 2/3 in the compared to up to 2/3 in the

past.past.

During the 1960’s-80’s, During the 1960’s-80’s, extensive clear-cutting of extensive clear-cutting of old-growth forests was a old-growth forests was a major focus on federal major focus on federal

lands. lands.

Restoration thinning can improve the health of already clear-cut areas after decades of logging so they can provide better habitat.

Over the next 20 years: 730 million board feet can be

harvested each year from public lands with little controversy.

This work can maintain or create more than 8,000 jobs.

Collaboration between conservation groups, public land managers, the timber industry, and other stakeholders can lead to restored forests and watersheds, as well as a healthy economy.

Worked (and working!) to protect over a million acres of Wilderness and millions more of roadless areas - some of Oregon’s last, best wild places.

Only 4% of Oregon is protected as Wilderness. Many of our most beautiful and ecologically important landscapes are not protected.

Devil’s Staircase Wilderness, central Coast Range Wild Rogue

Wilderness

Crater Lake Wilderness

You can help keep Oregon You can help keep Oregon a special place!a special place!

Visit Visit www.oregonwild.orgwww.oregonwild.org to to find more ways to get find more ways to get involved.involved.

Become an Oregon Wild Become an Oregon Wild member.member.

Sign up for our e-mail list.Sign up for our e-mail list. Come on an Oregon Wild Come on an Oregon Wild

hike. hike.