By cooperating, we can achieve goals

We, the undersigned, would like to see our community avoid a polarized tug of war, in how we respond to the recently released Draft Forest Plan. The conflict approach, where various interests promote their respective visions and view each other as opponents, is an approach that promises more gridlock than solutions.

A far better approach is to acknowledge the obvious, that our public forest land is abundant in resources, and that it is possible to increase active management for jobs and commodity resources, provide for all kinds of recreational opportunities and promote conservation initiatives. With a spirit of cooperation instead of conflict we can achieve these goals and protect important parts of our precious remaining wild country.

As we all work on our responses and recommendations to the Draft Forest Plan, we mutually pledge to support this approach. We can have timber production, motorized and quiet recreation, maintain wildlife values and protect wild places, if we work together. We agree this cooperative approach will be far better for our community in the long run as the plan is selected and implemented.

Many thanks to the USFS for their careful work on this draft plan, and for their openness to input on how best to manage our abundant public resources.

PHILIP HOUGH

Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness

LIZ JOHNSON-GEBHARDT

Priest Community Forest Connection

BOB BOEH

Idaho Forest Group

MIKE PETERSEN and JEFF JUEL

Lands Council

BRAD SMITH

Idaho Conservation League

ALAN HARPER

Idaho Forest Group

JEFF CONNOLLY

Mike Reynolds Logging

PAUL SIERACKI

Consulting GIS Analyst

TERRY J. HARRIS

Kootenai Environmental Alliance

JOSH ANDERSON

Vaagen Bros. Lumber, Inc.

JERRY PAVIA

Boundary Backpackers