Wyden hears from experts on old-growth forests

Experts testify in Senate on the role the federal government should play in protecting the values of old-growth forests.

Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon is hearing from experts to help him prepare legislation to protect old-growth forests.

The Oregon Democrat says too much money is being wasted fighting over whether to cut big trees for lumber. He says the public wants them protected, and the money could be better spent protecting the national forests from wildfires.

He heard testimony in the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests from scientists and representatives of the U.S. Forest Service, the timber industry and conservation groups.

Forest Service Northwest Regional Forester Linda Goodman noted that there is no generally accepted definition of what an old-growth forest is.