Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Dr. Ross. Thank you, Senator. I have studied a number of technical reports that I could find and I am just giving you a few comments based on my summary of those. First of all, in the advocacy of previous studies, RARE I and is — any good teacher will tell you the length of time spent studying does not equal the amount of wisdom retained or gained. RARE II A hasty decision and hard release language combined to make our mistakes permanent. I believe that some sort of custodial cate gory where we learn as much as we can and keep our options as open as we can in all directions is to our advantage. Also, a disad vantage in some lands being designated purely as wilderness. One technical study that I have read used an economic analysis to de termine what is the long-term investment potential in national Forest Service land. And you can compare the situation to a farmer planting and tending this crop for 80 years before he gets his first cut. And given the conditions of tree farming, it really does not pay the forest industry to invest their money there. They would be better off than the bank. They would be better off putting it in the bank. They would get less than 4 percent because of the high cost of the land. I believe that our Government has to take some part in protect ing the land, also in investing in the trees that are beneficial to everyone, and balancing economic and noneconomic needs. Thank you.