Blowing Rock, NC –The U.S Forest Service issued a final decision today to proceed with its controversial plan to log over 210 acres of the Pisgah National Forest directly below the resort town of Blowing Rock in western North Carolina. The decision immediately drew fire from the community, which has opposed the project.

In January of 2005, USFS announced plans to log the Globe Forest, which harbors old-growth trees – increasingly rare in the region, some more than 300 years old. Over 1,800 comments from citizens were submitted to the agency, the vast majority opposed to any logging in the Globe. Taking their cue from the community, the Blowing Rock Town Council and the Watauga County Commission each passed unanimous resolutions opposing the project.

The town’s resolution, passed last August, stated: “. . . the Town of Blowing Rock Town Council does specifically request that the U.S. Forest Service select the No Action Alternative; conduct an in-depth habitat study of the Globe Area; and pursue a Scenic View Designation for the Globe Area.”

In response to fierce public opposition, the agency revised the logging project in November of last year, but reduced the area to be logged by just 19 acres. In a guest editorial that appeared in several local papers in December, District Ranger Joy Malone wrote, “We welcome healthy dialog on the best way to manage our national forest resources.” Malone assured residents that the final decision would reflect “the greatest good for the greatest number in the long run.”

Throughout the community, however, the gesture rang hollow.

“This decision confirms what many of us already suspected – the Forest Service made up their mind a long time ago,” said Blowing Rock Town Councilwoman Barbara Ball. “Sure, they invited comments from the public, but it's obvious that they were just going through the motions.”

“We see this decision as a litmus test for the public process,” said Tracy Davids, Executive Director of the Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project, an Asheville-based organization that has tracked the project since its inception. “The community has expressed overwhelming opposition to the logging, which may damage Blowing Rock’s economy and overall quality of life, but the agency has decided to turn a deaf ear to their concerns.”

SABP has joined with partner organizations Wild South, Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition, Western North Carolina Alliance and the Southern Environmental Law Center to appeal the agency’s decision.

“The Globe project is a good example of exceptionally poor management decisions by the Forest Service, both from an ecological standpoint and from a public trust standpoint,” said SELC Senior Attorney Doug Ruley. “We have worked diligently with District Ranger Malone and her staff—including a field visit to inspect old growth trees—in order to reach a balanced solution. Unfortunately, the agency has forced our hand and now we may need to pursue this matter in the courts.”

Contacts:

Chris Joyell, Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project – 828.258.2667
Doug Ruley, Southern Environmental Law Center – 828-285-9125