To the Editor:

After reading the article, Forest Service Plans for Private Timberland, Timber West June/July 2012, I did not know if I should laugh,cry or be mad. As the smoke from one of the worst fire years pollutes the air in Northeast Oregon I think mad would be most appropriate.

During the 70s and 80s they did a great job of managing my/our (national) forest, especially many acres of tussock moth salvage that now is a healthy, growing stand of pine.

The last 20 years, because of Franklin Science, saving big trees and Thomas Science, saving small trees my/our forest is very unhealthy and at risk to be destroyed by fire. The small private landowners generally are very involved in forest management and manage for a long term healthy, growing stand.

The so-called collaborative, integration, partnership management style is a joke way too little, way too late to save my/our forest.

Do you think the service should expand authority and control of private timber? Do you think small private timber owners would consider for a minute any help from the Forest Service? Do you think the Forest Service should continue to manage my/our forest land?

If your answers are no, I suggest that you go online (giveusourlandback.org) and read how management of my/our land could happen in a timely and responsible manner by local people, supporting the local economy on a long-term basis.

Mad!