Fearful that a lawsuit filed by enviros might lead to a court-ordered logging injunction in the Sierra Nevada in California, the U.S. Forest Service next week will initiate its own three-month logging ban on 11 million acres in the region. Three enviro groups, including the Earth Island Institute, sued the Forest Service in October for failing to do enough to protect the California spotted owl and Pacific fisher, both of which are under consideration for endangered species status. The enviro groups’ concerns may be addressed in a broad Forest Service management plan for the region to be released soon. The groups have agreed to delay their injunction motion while the logging ban is in effect.
