Old Growth Forest Management in the Pacific Northwest: How the Northern Spotted Owl Affected Policy Change

Authors

  • Adam Hager University of Mary Washington

Keywords:

conservation, American conservation, northern spotted owl, Pacific Northwest, Endangered Species Act

Abstract

The saga of the northern spotted owl in the Pacific Northwest is the story of the American conservation movement. No bird has influenced policy and polarized a population the way the northern spotted owl did in the late 20th century. The owl makes its home in the old growth forests of the Pacific Northwest – forests that have for centuries provided their human inhabitants with a sense of awe and more recently, a tremendous amount of high quality timber. As more and more timber was cut in the mid to late 1900s, so too was the habitat for the spotted owl. An environmental crisis arose that pitted a massive logging industry that fueled the regional economy against environmentalists who wanted to protect old growth forests. Eventually, scientists learned enough about the owl and its habitat to give environmentalists the momentum and evidence they needed to gain clout in political arenas and thus affect policy change. After years of research from both sides of the issue and failed attempts to find an adequate balance, policies such as the Endangered Species Act (1973) and the Northwest Forest Plan (1994) were implemented to protect the owl’s habitat. As a result, the fate of the old growth forests of the Pacific Northwest was forever changed.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dawn Bowen

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Published

2018-06-29

Issue

Section

Natural Sciences