Oregon: Say thanks for saving old growth in state parks & also ask ’em to do it more often!

If a big tree falls in the woods and several people are around to hear it, do you start cutting more down? That was the question the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department faced after a giant Sitka Spruce crashed to the ground unexpectedly last summer at Oswald West State Park. The Parks Department was worried that more trees might start succumbing to gravity, making the campground less safe for visitors, unless they started cutting them down.

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We’re happy to report that the state’s preferred alternative (Option 3) is to close the small campground rather than log trees over 6 feet in diameter. Please join us in commending the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department by writing to support their decision to keep the trees standing and urge them to consider ancient forests in future management of the parks.

Oswald West State Park, named for Oregon’s 14th governor (1911-1915), who first protected our ocean shore for public use, contains some of the largest and most accessible old growth Sitka spruce trees still remaining to be found anywhere along the entire northern Oregon coast!

This remnant forest is a big reason why over 1 million visitors come to the park every year and why a 1986 plan for state parks in Tillamook County states Oswald West should be kept as natural as possible. The preferred option for the park keeps all trails open, and protects the ancient trees by closing the small campground. Tell the Parks Department that they’re right; we should move the picnic table, rather than cutting down big trees that might fall on it.

Let’s keep all of our remaining old-growth standing tall for future generations to enjoy…and let’s start at Os West! Take action here.

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