The document discusses a case involving a land trade between the Forest Service and a logging company of old growth forests in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Environmental groups oppose the trade as the land includes Market Mountain near a town that locals use for resources. After legal action and protests, the groups were able to get Market Mountain and other old growth parcels removed from the deal. The document outlines the key players, viewpoints, chronology of events, and commentary on the conflict between more pragmatic and idealistic environmental perspectives.

1. Market Mountain
By Jason Peters

2. Topics of Discussion
• The Case
• Ethical Problems
• Key Players
• Main View Points
• Chronology
• Commentary
• My Position

3. The Case
• The Forest Service is trading parcels of old growth forests in the Gifford
Pinchot National Forest. They are trading with Saddle River Logging
Company for some of the land they already own. The case revolves around
this trade. Environmental groups are involved in backing the trade as well as
opposing the trade and we will be taking a look at the different view points
as well as some of the ethical problems that arise.

4. Ethical Problems
• The land in question is very close to a town (Miller, Washington)
• Specifically, Market Mountain which is included in the trade is right next to the town
• The land is where they hunt, fish, and acquire other natural resources which would
be lost if they clear cut the mountain.
• According to Forest Monitor, “Logging has had a severe impact on food and other
resources which form the basis of the livelihoods of many forest-dependent
peoples. In terms of food resources, wild meat and fish represent vital sources of
protein. A number of studies have shown that the availability of wild meat has
declined in logging areas in a number of forest regions” (Forest Monitor, 2006).

5. Ethical Problems
• In a study done by Politi, Hunter, and Rivera they found that selective
logging reduced the amount of cavity nests of birds (Politi, 2012, p. 1)
• Another study looked at the effect that creating gaps in well developed
forests had on the abundance of breeding birds.
• They found that Red eyed Vireos and Ovenbirds were significantly less in cut areas.
(Robinson & Robinson, 1998, p. 1)

6. Ethical Problems
• Another study showed that logging the riparian zone results in an increase of
water temperature and a changes in the assemblages of benthic
macroinvertebrates (Rak, 2011, p. 3).
• The water is also shown to be affected with excess amounts of nitrogen,
phosphate, and suspended solids when clear cutting takes place.
• The removal of the trees that would usually uptake those nutrients leads to an increase
in the rivers and runoff which can cause changes in the river ecosystems and
ecosystems as a whole (Finer, 2013, p. 1)

7. Ethical Problems
• From a Christian Perspective we can pull from what we have been gleaning from Prediger’s
book For the Beauty of the Earth
• He asks the question, “Why should we Christians speak for the trees?” (Prediger, 2010, p. 157)
• One of the ways he answers his own question is with the statement, “If you breathe, thank a
tree”
• Another reason he gives is that we should be concerned with what God is concerned about
• So the ethical problem that comes with logging is that it raises the question of whether or
not we are being good stewards of God’s creation and provision

8. Key Players
• Forest Service- “We are a multi-faceted agency that manages and protects 154 national forests and
20 grasslands in 44 states and Puerto Rico. The agency’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity,
and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future
generations” (United States Forest Service)
• Saddle River Logging- The logging company involved in the trade with the Forest Service
• “By embracing basic Eco-friendly practices, selective cutting is done with a very low impact on the
surrounding forest and without sacrificing beauty. When done properly, creating views and exposures can
result in enhanced forest structure with a more natural mix of trees” (Timber Pros)
• Judy Sirkin
• Runs a non-profit “that scrutinizes land exchanges between government agencies and private parties in the
west” (Martin-Schramm, 2003, p. 112)
• Opposing the trade

9. Key Players
• Bobby Bianch
• Is a friend and colleague of Judy Sirkin. Bobby did an internship with Judy when she was in
college and now works with a social service agency doing community organizing
• Bobby is part of the group opposing the trade of land
• Cascade Club
• Environmental Organization that is supporting the trade of the land
• Andy Wright
• He the main advocate of the Cascade Club for this case

10. Main View Points
• In the commentary Stivers & Martin point out that there are 4 environmental perspectives represented in this
case
1) Critical Ecology Perspective (activists)- They completely oppose corporate capitalism and were outraged
about the environment. They are had very direct tactics.
2) Developmentalist Perspective (the logging company)- It seems to be all about business with the logging
company with very little concern for sustainability or conservation.
3) Conservationist Perspective (Forest Service)- Though the Forest Service is portrayed as an antagonist in
this case and are trading with the logging company they are historically built on a conservationist ideology.
4) Preservationist Perspective (Crusade Club)- Although the Cascade club is supporting the trade of the old
growth forests their goal is preservation and they see the trade as a necessary compromise

11. Chronology
• A deal is made between the United States Forest Service and a logging company
called Saddle River Logging
• (The deal is being backed and supported by an environmental organization called the
Cascade Club)
• A non-profit ran by a woman named Judy Sirkin, other environmentalist groups,
and people from a local town called Miller start coming together to make an appeal
• While these groups are forming Saddle River seeks to have the deal attached as a
rider to an appropriations bill
• (In doing this they can avoid appeals, litigation, and being scrutinized by the public)

12. Chronology
• Saddle River successfully has the deal attached and the deal seems to be coming to a close
rapidly
• (This is a discouraging turn of events for some of the environmental groups apposing the deal)
• The groups pressed on and began construction on a “tree village” on Market Mountain and
vowed to remain until the deal was abolished
• Shortly after biologists that works for Saddle River Logging discovered endangered marbled
murrelets in part of the forest
• (Since they wouldn’t be able to cut there they wanted to reopen and renegotiate)
• (This was a good thing for the opposing groups!!)

13. Endangered Species Act
“Critical habitat is defined as specific areas:
• within the geographical area occupied by the species at the time of listing, if
they contain physical or biological features essential to conservation, and
those features may require special management considerations or protection;
and
• outside the geographical area occupied by the species if the agency
determines that the area itself is essential for conservation.” (NOAA
Fisheries, 2015)

14. Chronology
• An open forum was held where Andy Wright of the Cascade Club and Judy Sirkin
representing her non-profit spoke about the trade
• Here we see two view points from two environmentalist groups conflicting
• The townspeople also held a meeting where a spokesman from both the Saddle
River Logging Company and the Forest service came to speak about the deal and
answer questions
• A final deal was made between the two of them that still included Market Mountain
but didn’t include the land that contained the endangered marbled murrelets

15. Chronology
• The protesting groups made one final push and went to the company
headquarters in Seattle Washington to display their opposition
• Soon after Judy Sirkin received a phone call from company lawyers
• The lawyers agreed to remove Market Mountain and all other old growth
parcels from the deal
• “It was over. They had won!!” (Martin-Schramm, 2003, p. 120)

16. Commentary
• “The conflict between preservationist and critical ecology perspectives in this
case was intense.” (Stivers, 2003, p. 124)
• The difference in “style” could be defined as “politics of pure idealism” and
“politics of principled pragmatism”
• Idealism says no compromise whereas Pragmatism focuses on practicality

17. My Position
• I have a hard time choosing a position but in general I think I would fall more to the
side of pragmatism because it leaves room for discussion and compromise whereas
idealism doesn’t seem to leave much room for discussion. Ideally, yes, I would like
to save Market Mountain and all of the old growth forests rather than see them cut
down and I think that if setting up a village on the mountain is what needs to
happen then that’s what should happen. I’m not against their opposition but
without discussion and compromise nothing will get ultimately solved. I don’t think
I know enough about old growth forests and the overall make up of the forests to
make the call.

18. References
Abas, A. Mohamed, M. Rak, A. Said, I. Effect of Logging Activities on Water Quality and Benthic macroinvertebrate Assemblages of Madek River Basin, Kluang,
Johor, Malaysia. Jasem. 15: 337-340.
Forest Monitor. Social Impacts of Logging. http://www.forestsmonitor.org/en/reports/550066/550082
Finer, L. Lauren, A. Launiainen, S. Palianinen, M. Piirainen, S. Mattsson, T. Starr, M. 2013. Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Carbon, and Suspended Solid Loads from
Forest Clear-Cutting and Site preparation: Long-Term Paired Catchment Studies from Eastern Finland. Royal Swedish Academy of Science. 43:218-233.
Martin-Schramm, J.B. Stivers, R.L. 2003. Christian Environmental Ethics. New York: Orbis Books.
Prediger, S. 2010. For the Beauty of the Earth. MI: Baker Academics.
Robinson, W.D. Robinson, S.K. 1998. Effects of Selective Logging on Forest Bird Populations in a Fragmented Landscape. Conservation Biology. 13: No. 1.
Timber Pros. 2015. Views and Exposures. http://www.timberproslogging.com/
United States Forest Service. About the Agency. http://www.fs.fed.us/about-agency
NOAA Fisheries. 2015. Critical Habitat. http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/criticalhabitat.htm
Politi, N. Hunter M. River L. 2012. Assessing the effects of selective logging on birds in Neotropical piedmont and cloud montane forests. Biodivers Conserv. 21:
3131-3155