Court Blocks Weyerhaeuser in Washington
Good news. Today, a US District Court in Seattle stopped Weyerhaeuser from logging in endangered Spotted Owl habitat in western Washington (AP Story link).
Frequent readers of the Understory will remember our report on the how the suit filed by Washington Forest Law Center late last year could expose the forest industry’s “Sustainable Forestry Initiative” greenwashing scheme.
Weyerhaeuser trotted out the Spotted Owl as proof of the program’s green credentials in 2003. According to its press release touting the “rigorous requirements” of the SFI, “Some of the forestry practices employed by Weyerhaeuser that meet certification standards include… special measures to protect rare, threatened or endangered species such as… the northern spotted owl in Oregon and Washington.”
Some standard! You’d think a “bold approach to sustainable forest management”–as SFI describes itself–would at least keep its participants from breaking the law.
We hear that SFI was waiting on the court to decide whether to kick Weyerhaeuser out. Considering that the company’s CEO sits on the SFI board however, we’re not holding our breath.
11 Responses to “Court Blocks Weyerhaeuser in Washington”
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August 7th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
I’m glad to see pressure being placed against Weyerhauser to clean up their logging practices in endangered species habitat. These critical areas must be protected for the enjoyment of future generations. I have seen the destruction firsthand that Weyerhauser’s mismanagement of lands in the Pacific Northwest has led to from sedimentation of waterways to major landslides, and this does not even touch the problems posed against endangered species. Keep the pressure on and demand corporate accountability!
August 7th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
For years logging has been responsible for decimating our environment and killing off our wildlife. It is time for companies such as Weyerhaeuser be held responsible for it actions and clean up its act.
August 7th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Please be aware of our endangered species practice for the good of all.
August 7th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
I think it’s time that business did a better job of taking responsibility for their part in the upkeep of the ecology.
`Today, a US District Court in Seattle stopped Weyerhaeuser from logging in endangered Spotted Owl habitat in western Washington’. Today is 8/7/07.
I think there needs to be a department for answering business’ questions, and to make it a business responsibility to operate within the laws and regulations of the state. Weyerhaeuser, in this piece from RAN– Rainforest Action Network– had to be stopped by a court order from logging a certain area. I think CEO’s and other top mangement ought to be held accountable, for crimes that would amount to being, crimes against the enviornment. When it can be shown that mandatory studies, and recomedations have been made, companies must be held responsible for any ecological damage they may do.
Thus I repeat, Weyerhaeuser, in this piece from RAN– Rainforest Action Network– had to be stopped by a court order from logging a certain area.
I think CEO’s and other top mangement ought to be held accountable for crimes that would amount to being, crimes against the enviornment.
The rules can be laid out and the responsibility should extend itself to the license of a repeat offender to operate.
Once the consequences of offences hit home, disrupting both business and the people responsible for a companies actions, business’ will stop bypassing the rules in favor of profits.
August 7th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
It’s high time we brought these logging companies in line with the laws that are already on the book. Their interpretation of the laws regarding logging have been altered to deem them doing a really good thing for the forest by clearing out the dead wood, and making fire trails through the forests. These great and steadfast forests have existed without our help all this time, so I would have to conclude they have no basis on which to attach their brilliant scheme to log these forests on. Do you think they’re doing it for the money, or are they doing it for the forest? I agree!
August 7th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
clean up after u caused the mess, pls.
August 8th, 2007 at 8:25 am
Weyerhaeuser should be ashamed. They would have gone right ahead and logged in the endangered species area if not stopped by a court order. They don’t care at all! There have to be better laws that protect the environment and wildlife from such desctructive logging practices and CEO’s of such companies should be held accountable for destroying environments and wildlife habitats. Until logging companies start making decent decisions on their own they should not be trusted and need to be monitored very closely.
August 8th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
You can get plenty of wood legally and w/o damaging our wonderful forests and disturbing our wildlife. Think of everyone not just your pocketbook. You are not the only ones on this planet!
August 12th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Please keep America beautiful. These issues are clear.
September 27th, 2007 at 10:48 am
weyerhaeuser’s stand against these owls is dispicable. Your arrogance in relation to these owls has made me decide to NOT BUY form you until I hear you have cleaned up your act.
December 20th, 2007 at 11:40 am
My parents live in Falls City, OR. You should see the destruction Weyerhaeuser has caused. They clear cut so close to the river that when we had the high wind storm last year it blew down the remaining trees that were left to be the supposed buffer zone for the river. Now there is no buffer zone along that stretch of the river. How they get away with this is they contract the work out to local loggers. Then they blame these loggers and say don’t blame us we didn’t do it. Weyerhaeuser does NOT have green practices.