It seems strange that some people want to take National Forest lands out of multiple use. Those who think that this will help with the problem of carbon balance should think twice and look at larger connections. Producing steel and concrete for buildings releases massive amounts of carbon through their production. Replacing those structural elements with mass timber from our forests locks up carbon in the building while opening up the canopy for new growth to soak up more carbon.

The slash left behind is important for wildlife habitat and gradually returns carbon to the soil. And some of the easily chipped material replaces fossil fuel for heat. There may be times when the US Forest Service has not taken into account important reasons not to allow particular areas to be cut. If that is so, opponents need to make the case for why a particular cut should not happen. Just opposing cutting in an area because one loves the way it is now is more NIMBY than environmentalist.

Jennifer Smith

Pembroke

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