COALITION PRESENTS NEW SIDE TO DEBATE IN SHAWNEE FOREST

GOLCONDA, Ill. -- A new voice is being heard from Shawnee National Forest.

And that voice is saying: Cut some of the hardwood timber from the forest; keep the horse trail system intact; permit off-road vehicles in the forest; and oppose further "wilderness areas" designations.

"We're encouraging the cutting of some timber from the Shawnee Forest," says Ray Morris, chairman of a new organization Conservation Coalition which was founded recently to encourage multi-use of forest facilities. "We're not opposed entirely to the principal of preservation, but feel that there are reasonable limits."

The Conservation Coalition is "still in the development stages," said Morris. "We had a rally last weekend in the Lake Glendale area of Pope County, and more than 300 people attended."

The gathering attracted people from a number of states Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri.

"It's time that we presented another side to the debate over management of the Shawnee National Forests," said Morris. "To date, environmentalists, or `preservationists,' have dominated the media attentions concerning the forest."

Morris said several of the "preservationists" were on hand at last weekend's meeting.

"They (preservationists) maintain that renewable natural resources can only be protected through preservation," said Morris.

The purpose of the new conservation group, Morris says, is to encourage multiple use of the nation's natural resources.

"We want to see more reasonable limits concerning the Shawnee Forest," said Morris. "We're not saying that timber companies should go into the forest and cut everything in sight. But, we feel that more timber could be cut, and that it would still leave area which are still attractive to wildlife.

"We also want to see more recreation in the forest," said Morris. "We're encouraging more recreational development for horseback riding, off-road vehicle use, hiking, and biking. Conservation is the planned management of the forest, and the concept of multi-use should guide the management of the forest."

The Conservation Coalition, which includes people with timber, mining, farming, and conservation backgrounds, has formulated is comments on the proposed Shawnee National Forest management plan and submitted them to Forest Supervisor Rodney K. Sallee.

The coalition recommendations include:

Recommends that the forest Service offer 16 million board feet of hardwood over half of the land base, and 16 million board feet of pine. The forest service plan has proposed offer 4.2 million board feet of hardwood over 20 percent of the land base. The service has also proposed cutting only 600,000 board feet of pine. A board foot is one square foot by one-inch.

Recommends construction of 300 wildlife openings for game species, to compensate for openings in the wilderness area will be allowed to fill in.,

Supports the Forest Service recommendation to designate 286 miles of ATV trails.

Opposes any increase in the size of the forest, and any increase in the number of natural areas, designed to protect a particular plant or animal habitat.

Opposes recommending congressional designation of any streams on the forest as wild and scenic rivers. The forest service is considering recommending designation of six rivers, which would limit crossing points for ATVs and horses.

"Illinois has to import lumber," said Morris. "This situation could be eased by permitting responsible timber cutting in the Shawnee. Not cutting the timber puts a double `whammy' on people in this area."

Forty percent of Pope County is owned by the Shawnee Forest, said Morris. "And we have a high unemployment rate. In order to maintain a viable local economy, we need to cut some of the timber in the forest.

"The coalition feel that for the federal government to forego the tree harvest on Shawnee is not in the best interests of the rural and state interests," said Morris.