Dear Editor:

The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act (HR1975) proposes that Congress designate a 23 million-acre Wilderness - a designation that would cause forest ecosystems to suffer immensely and great economic damage throughout Montana and several adjacent western states!

Presettlement western forests were shaped by fire. Moist sites usually experienced intensive fires every 150-300 years, whereas drier sites historically experienced much shorter interval, lower intensity, fires that reduced the presence of species favored by shaded conditions and promoted longer lived, sun loving species.

Successful forest fire suppression has resulted in stands with more crowded conditions of smaller, mostly shade favored species that are less fire, insect, and disease resistant.

These crowded stands are subject to high mortality of both the smaller tree sizes as well as the large old-growth trees - mortality that has left forest fuel loads that greatly exceed historic norms. Fire ignition occurring on a hot, dry and/or windy day often results in large, difficult to control wildfires, threatening human lives and homes, as well as forest and urban infrastructure.

Wilderness designation, thus no forest management possible, greatly exacerbates the situation.

Commercial timber harvest and thinning are necessary to maintain healthy tree spacing that promotes species best suited for ecosystem compatibility, growth potential, aesthetic qualities, and fire, insect and disease resistance. Forest management helps maintain acceptable forest fire fuel loads, promotes forest sustainability and infrastructure as well as a viable work force and business community.

The necessarily large investments in harvest and manufacturing facilities can only be possible when adequate and predictable volumes of timber are available on both private and public lands - harvests that are necessary to maintain a desirable, managed forest and the continued economy within many western communities.

Write our congressional delegation to stop HR 1975, the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act. (Hard to imagine a greater misnomer).

Roger C. Lund

Paradise