Group appeals

Globe decision
By Jeff Eason
eason@mountaintimes.com

Two months ago, the U.S. Forest Service appeared to have the last word on the controversial Globe Project when it approved a scaled-down version of the original proposal.

The modified version included timber harvests in the northernmost reaches of the Pisgah National Forest, including places that can be seen from Blowing Rock and the Blue Ridge Parkway, but is divided up into 17 smaller “partial harvest units” averaging 11 acres apiece in size.

The modified Globe Project failed to meet the demands of a number of conservation groups in the area, and after meeting with representatives of the U.S. Forest Service last week, they filed an appeal to prevent the logging of old growth trees in the Globe area.

“We alerted the Forest Service of the presence of old growth back in 2006 and asked them to protect these remarkable trees,” said Doug Ruley, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center.

“We have worked diligently with District Ranger (Joy) Malone and her staff—including a visit to inspect old growth trees—in order to reach a balanced solution. Unfortunately, the Forest Service still plans to log this rare and precious old growth.”

According to field surveys conducted by the Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project, now known as Wild South, old growth trees ranging in age from 100 to 300 years old exist in the Globe, a valley forest located a few miles south of downtown Blowing Rock.

“We are disappointed that we were unable to reach an agreement with the agency,” said Chris Joyell of Wild South, the lead appellant in the appeal. “The community has spoken loud and clear. They want to see this area preserved, not logged. There is a lot of support—from local business and political leaders, as well as the public at large—to designate the Globe basin as a National Scenic Area.”

When the Globe Project was first proposed by the Forest Service in the summer of 2006, it was opposed by a number of environmental and conservation groups. The Blowing Rock Town Council, the Boone Town Council and the Watauga County Board of Commissioners all passed resolutions opposing the proposed logging and calling for the creation of a Grandfather National Scenic Area.

That opposition helped influence the Forest Service’s decision to scale back its original plan which included cutting in 231 acres of two-aged shelterwood and removing 80 percent or more of the basal area, including 63 acres of old growth forest.

“We have an appeals process in place so people who are still unhappy with decisions by the Forest Service can file an appeal and we will review their appeal,” said Terry Seyden, public affairs officer with the forest service in North Carolina.

“We have an independent team that will review the appeal and make a recommendation to Marisue Hilliard, Forest Supervisor for the National Forests of North Carolina.”

Seyden indicated that the review process was already under way and that a decision on the appeal would be announced by the Forest Service sometime in January.

“This is an administrative appeal process and we will comment on it when a decision is reached,” Seyden said. “The appeal process is something the Forest Service provides to the public to avoid going to court.”

Seyden stated that the public can keep abreast of the Forest Service’s decision on the appeal online at www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/nepa.