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Destructive Logging Contested Along Scenic Trail in Sam Houston National Forest

Case Updates:

September 3, 2005

On September 30, 2005, a federal judge upheld the recommendations of a federal magistrate ruling in our favor and stopping destructive logging in the Sam Houston National Forest. The court’s ruling formalizes a stop order to the ongoing timber sales. A piece of the case will now move forward to determine whether the forest service violated its own management plans when it allowed the timber sales. Check back for future updates!

September 2, 2005

On September 2, 2005, in our case to stop destructive logging in the Sam Houston National Forest, the federal magistrate ruled in our favor and issued a stop order to the ongoing timber sales. In her ruling, the magistrate found that the Forest Service was violating its own management plan designed to protect the forest and its wildlife. The case will now be sent to a District Court judge for a final ruling. Stay tuned!

August 1, 2005

Located just north of Houston is the Sam Houston National Forest, one of only four national forests in all of Texas. In addition to providing habitat for a range of animals including ospreys, woodpeckers, and bats, the forest is home to the Lone Star Hiking Trail, recognized as one of only 12 National Recreation Trails in the nation. For the past two years and under the guise of “forest health,” the Bush administration has been trying to open the area to commercial logging along parts of the trail. In addition to creating miles of “temporary” logging roads and authorizing controlled burns, one of the logging plans will even clear-cut right through the trail. Sierra Club has challenged two of these timber sales, arguing that the administration has failed to take into consideration the devastating impacts on sensitive animals as required by law. The case is part of a broader strategy to slow commercial logging in our nation’s southern forests.

Details and Documents:

Court Order
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
September 30, 2005