Dan,

Good point, but an argument could also be made that the changes concerning DDT and its use was one incremental step in changing the way we use chemicals. That is an example of another industry that has had an impact on our environment.

I was over simplifying things, suggesting that the folks who hang out in trees for a few months in a tree they named as the idealists, the folks who say stop logging at all costs. Where the realists look at ways to recycle old timbers, use more recycled paper content in finished goods like cardboard, newpapers, and copier paper, and look at different types of fiber like the hybrid poplar/cottonwood trees.

Eddie,

Another change that has been made as it pertains to export logs is that only trees from private forests may be exported. Trees from State and National forests may only be used for finished products like dimensional lumber, poles etc. This change was made to ensure that our economy benefitted from a number of transaction cycles, not just one or two.

I must say that this conversation has remained very civil, even though this issue has brought out emotions in a number of folks. Good job on sticking to the facts, and refraining from the name calling. I wish more discussions would be like this.