At issue is not current logging jobs, but potential future ones because little or no timber harvesting has been done on the roadless areas in years. The Forest Service estimates that nationwide, the amount of timber sold off national forests will decline 6 percent as a result of the roadless initiative. That hit could be felt most by small lumber mills and operations, which haven't purchased private timberlands as the large timber companies have increasingly done in the last decade. But there are also jobs directly related to the roadless areas, Decker said. A Montana Wilderness Association study in April found 3,339 state jobs dependent on roadless areas, many in the outfitting and guiding industry.
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A limited number of copies are also available at national forest supervisor and district ranger offices. For more information, call that office nearest you. All rights reserved.