Editorial: Work with Coquille Tribe on timber management plans

Wednesday, July 6, 2011  

"Leadership sometimes requires making an unpopular decision. Coos County commissioners did the right thing last week, resisting pressure to torpedo a tribal logging project.

The Coquille Indian Tribe has spent the past several years pursuing an innovative deal with the federal Bureau of Land Management. If the government agrees to tribal stewardship of some federal lands, the tribe's special legal status might allow increased timber cutting -- bringing more revenue for the county and more jobs for local residents.

Previous commissioners endorsed the tribe's plan in 2008. But greed always is the enemy of cooperation. Recent publicity about the tribe's progress provoked a movement by some local citizens to elbow the tribe aside and pursue county control of the forest.

The county-centric option probably was tempting to the commissioners. But going into competition with the tribe would have been disastrous for the community."

Get the Story:
Editorial: A smart and honorable decision (The Coos Bay World 7/6)

DOI approves timber management project for Coquille Tribe (5/3)