Over the last several years, the Bush administration has tried to shift forest protection rules on public land to encourage a return to old-growth logging.  A key component of their strategy was to re-write the recovery plan for the northern spotted owl, a threatened species that has been decimated by logging and habitat destruction.

Now, several years and several million dollars later, an independent scientific review has found what most Oregonians know to be common sense--you can't recover the owls unless you protect the old-growth forests they call home.

The Oregonian took a look at the story this morning in a story titled "Review says spotted-owl plan falls short."

...The Bush administration's plan to recover the northern spotted owl underestimates the risk that wildfires and logging of large trees will damage the owl's habitat, according to scientific review of the plan released Monday...

"...We view the continued conservation of (old growth) to be paramount for northern spotted owl recovery," the reviewers wrote. They said risks to the survival of the species remain substantial...

The Associated Press also covered the story, citing this key quote from the report:

"...We view the continued conservation of [old-growth] forests to be paramount for Northern Spotted Owl recovery," the reviewers wrote...

The Bush administration's effort to re-write the spotted owl recovery plan is aimed at allowing more logging of their old-growth habitat, particularly on Bureau of Land Management lands in Western Oregon.  The administration's so-called "Western Oregon Plan Revisions" seek to increase old-growth logging on these lands by a staggering 700%.  Recently, Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio has spoken out strongly against this scheme, as have the federal Environmental Protection Agency and NOAA Fisheries.

The Bush administration's latest shenanigans on science and old-growth logging once again highlight the need for Congress to step in with federal legislation to protect our remaining ancient forests.