This case is currently inactive and was archived on 08-10-09.
Globe Timber Sale
Logging Project Threatens Scenic Views and Old Growth in the Pisgah National Forest
Old-growth forests protected under new plan
In welcome news in our years-long effort to save the Globe forest from the axe, the US Forest Service announced a redirection of its management of this environmentally special and popular place of the Pisgah National Forest. The agency has combined the Globe project with another, the Mulberry project, as a "stewardship project," and substantially reduced logging and road-building in both areas.
Significantly, the revised plan eliminates cutting of any old-growth stands - one of SELC's top priorities for this case. In addition, proposed logging in the Globe was decreased from 212 acres to 137 acres (and in the Mulberry area, from 235 acres to 209), temporary roads were reduced from 1.5 miles to half a mile, and no permanent roads will be built. The logging activity will be designed to lessen the visual impact to the nearby Blowing Rock community.
As a "stewardship project," proceeds from the timber harvesting will go directly back to this area of the Grandfather Ranger District, rather than to the U.S. Treasury where most national forest timber receipts go.
The revised plan is the result of a collaborative effort by multiple stakeholders over the last several years, including SELC.
Case Summary
Stretching out from the Blue Ridge Parkway, in the shadow of Grandfather Mountain, the Globe Forest forms part of a breathtaking view of the North Carolina high country. It’s also a popular destination for day hikers, backpackers, and anglers drawn to its mature woodlands, cold-running streams, and proximity to the neighboring Moses Cone and Julian Price Memorial Parks.
Rare Forest Resources in Jeopardy
Since 2006, this treasured section of the Pisgah National Forest has been threatened by a proposed U.S. Forest Service timber sale that targets more than 200 acres for logging. The project imperils not only mountain vistas, but also increasingly rare stands of old-growth forest. Working with a team of experts, SELC conducted an extensive field study and documented the presence of old growth in the areas slated for logging, including trees that range from 130 to more than 300 years old.
The Forest Service Response
To defend a landscape that’s vital to the region’s outdoor tourism industry, the communities of Blowing Rock, Boone, and Watauga County have voiced strong opposition to the Globe timber sale. The Forest Service responded by reducing the sale from 231 to 212 acres, but the slightly smaller plan still jeopardizes scenic views from Blowing Rock and some of the last stands of old-growth forest in the East.
SELC Takes Action
In November 2007, SELC filed a formal appeal of the timber sale, calling for the Forest Service to rethink its logging plan and to remove threats to scenic views and irreplaceable stands of old growth. The agency denied our appeal and may move forward with the project as early as 2009. SELC will take legal action if necessary to prevent the destruction of old-growth and scenic resources in the Globe.
A Long-Term Solution
In addition to challenging the Forest Service’s logging plan, SELC is working with local officials and partner groups to secure permanent protection of the Globe Forest as part of the proposed Grandfather National Scenic Area. An act of Congress is required to establish the 25,500-acre scenic area, which would stretch from Blowing Rock to Grandfather Mountain. Our attorneys have drafted model legislation for this purpose.
More background on this case:
Globe Timber Sale (Background) >>