To the Editor:

The United States Department of Agriculture is part of our federal government, and the U.S. Forest Service is a branch and part of that department. 

The job of the Forest Service, according to its motto and pledge, is to “care for the land and serve the people.” The national forests belong to the people. All the people. 

It is not the job of the Forest Service to select or choose any NGO (non-governmental organization) to manage our national forests. The Malheur National Forest has done this by selecting the National Wild Turkey Federation to manage the Starr Aspen Timber Sale. 

I must ask, is the NWTF a branch of the USDA or an outside NGO? Any NGO selected to manage our national forests sets a precedent and opens a Pandora’s box difficult to close.

Which special interest group (NGO) may be next? Defenders of Wildlife? Protagonists of Canis lupus?

Michael R. Christensen

John Day