Insane? ahhh.... yes.
Between 2000 and 2005, the United States lost an average of 831 square miles (215,200 hectares) of "primary forest" -- defined as forests with no visible signs of past or present human activities.
These forests, often termed "old-growth forests," have the highest number of plant and animal species and are generally considered a top priority for conservation by environmentalists and government agencies. Large expanses of American forests -- especially in the South -- have been converted for industrial tree plantations used for paper and wood production.
The announcement disappointed environmentalists who hoped Vilsack's policy would lead to a moratorium on road-building across 58.5 million acres of national roadless areas. Green groups are now bracing for more logging deals.
See Jobs Trump Conservation: Timber Sale in Roadless Tongass Approved (ENS) and Ketchikan mill is awarded Orion North timber for further details on the Tongass logging plan.
Comment from Ancient Native Americans: