Redwoods in CA and green products in OR

Issue:
For the past 20 years environmentalists have been fighting big timber corporations due to the destruction of old-growth redwoods (in the coastal region of California) and local employees of the timber corporations have been battling environmentalists in efforts to keep their jobs. The Redwood Forest Foundation, Inc. (RFFI), the first non-profit organization dedicated to saving redwood forests has a plan to strike deals with both perspectives. This past June, RFFI bought a 50,000-acre parcel of land from the Hawthorne Timber Company for $65 million. They borrowed the money from the Bank of America. Over the next 100 years RFFI intends to restore this heavily logged forest to a natural state. With that plans involve guarding the forests against future development and permitting the harvest of the trees at a 2 % (or less) rate, annually, to preserve local jobs and help pay off the loan.
Although this plan/partnership of environmentalists and business is the first of it’s kind, it seems practical and beneficial for all parties. I wonder if this plan will spur conservation/restoration efforts in other ecosystems or at a larger scale for the redwoods. I don’t think 50,00-acres should be all that is left of these forests. I also fear that business’ investing in these projects may be apprehensive to commit, if they have to wait a century to see the “progress.”

Article: “Save the trees so the trees can save us,” Ode Magazine, October 2007.


Deed:
While visiting and exploring Portland, OR and other cities in the state, I noticed numerous “green” alternatives available to consumers and citizens of the area. Some of these “green” alternatives may be in other cities but not as frequently seen in places such as Phoenix or Flagstaff, AZ. This is simply a list of the type of things I saw or used while my short stay in Oregon. I am sure there where other environmentally friendly services and products I just wasn’t exposed to them on my journey.
§ Dual flow toilets-little flush for 1 and real flush for 2
§ Solar powered parking meters
§ Accessible, convenient, and efficient public transportation (light-rail, bus, streetcar, sky-shuttle thing)
§ Biker friendly roadways and bridges
§ Service industries’ had recycled paper products and recycled plastics, papers, and glass
§ Styrofoam ‘to go’ boxes banned
§ Recycled paints
§ Restaurants furniture made from recycled materials
§ Restaurants served locally grown food
§ Farmers’ Markets
§ Community members monthly remove the invasive vine species that are choking out trees in Washington Park
§ Portland Saturday Market- facilitates the sales of locally made or grown merchandise