By Liz Bowen

FORKS OF SALMON, CALIFORNIA – "Rocking for Salmon" a benefit concert and dinner for "forest activists" was held at Butler Flat during Memorial Day weekend.

According to anti-logging web sites, the funds will go to support activism against three timber harvests planned in 2004 by the Forest Service in the Salmon River area. Those timber harvests are the Meteor, Knob and Glassups sales. Learning how to "Save the Salmon River" was the theme.

Brian Harris, public information officer for the Klamath National Forest, verified that Forest Service law enforcement stopped by the gathering on Butler Flat. It remained peaceful and over-night camping is allowed on the KNF. No arrests were made, he said.

EPIC Forest Watch Team encouraged forest activists on the Northern California coast to participate in the "Rocking for Salmon" benefit, which included the campout at Butler Flat and a hike through the Meteor project. Those who wanted to stay longer could be trained on the techniques of timber sale monitoring.

"K-San is committed to fighting the Meteor and Knob through direct action again in 2004," according to the Cascadia Rising web site on June 4.

Numbers to call for more information were 707-822-TREK and 541-951-0126.

Harris said that K-San stands for Klamath Salmon Action Network, which provides support for tree sitters.

On the Cascadia Rising web site, it stated that more than 4000 logging trucks will be carrying "ancient trees" from the timber sales on the Salmon. Harris was perplexed at the erroneous comment.

"It is not true that the Forest Service is targeting ancient trees. The only reason that five large trees are on the list is because they are in poor health," said Harris.

No part of the timber sale proposes clear cutting. Thinning in specific areas is the method that will be used. Nearly all the trees are under the size of 20-inches in diameter, according to the timber harvest prescription.

Across the Oregon border, to the north, the world-wide organization, Greenpeace, has set up a "Forest Rescue Station" in Josephine County on Bureau of Land Management lands.

According to Tom Kitchar, of the Waldo Mining District, Greenpeace does not have a permit to set up its anti-logging camp in the Bureau of Land Management area. Kitchar is frustrated that BLM is not doing anything about it.

"We need as many people as possible to call the Medford BLM at 542-618-2200 and complain to the district manager," said Kitchar. "Maybe if BLM gets a few hundred calls, they will … do something."

Greenpeace has set up a site in the proposed Kelsey Whiskey Timber Sale, located in the Klamath-Siskiyou region of southern Oregon, according to Greenpeace’s web site. The mobile station, which is open to the public for workshops, hikes and other educational activities, is a hub for Greenpeace’s campaign calling for greater protection and restoration of forests on U.S. public lands. It also calls for a "moratorium" on commercial logging.

"Greenpeace has come to southern Oregon, because this is a place of international significance," said Ginger Cassady, Greenpeace Forest Campaigner. "Like the Amazon, forests like these on our public lands in the U.S. must be protected and restored."

The state-of-the-art Greenpeace "Forest Rescue Station" runs on solar power, and features two, 24-foot diameter domes and a series of smaller tents. Satellite communications systems enable visitors to create and post weblogs about their experiences at the site.

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