Thanks for inviting me to be with you today. I'd like to talk with you today about the Forest Service's natural resource agenda and the changing face of the agency's forest management program. First though, I want to tell you that later today, I will be speaking to the Pacific Rivers Council. Conventional wisdom has it that the Chief of the Forest Service shouldn't visit with the Northwest Forestry Association and the Pacific Rivers Council on the same day - that the sides are too polarized to allow for meaningful conversation.
Conventional wisdom is right unfortunately - the debate is too contentious today.
We won't change that, however, until we agree to stop focusing so much energy into areas of disagreement. That is my message to you folks today and it will be my message to the Pacific Rivers Council tonight. Natural Resource Agenda Let's talk for a few minutes about the Forest Service natural resource agenda. This agenda charts a course for the Forest Service into the 21st Century. A course that is based on sound science and reflective of what the American people are demanding increasingly from their forests - a course that we believe is in the best interests of the land and of the communities who care about, and depend, on it.