Press Release: Conservation Groups Serve Timber Firms Notice of Intent to Sue over Elliott State Forest Privatization


March 13, 2014 — Three conservation organizations filed a notice of intent today to sue any potential timber purchasers of nearly 3,000 acres of the Elliott State Forest recently authorized for sale by the State of Oregon. Audubon Society of Portland, Cascadia Wildlands and the Center for Biological Diversity argue that if timber companies knowingly buy and log the tracts that contain marbled murrelet habitat, they will be in violation of the federal Endangered Species Act.

The Rally for the Elliott State Forest was Encouraging in spite of the Outcome.


The Rally today to save the three Elliott parcels from sale went well and we are very grateful to our friends and partners for showing up in force. In spite of this brave and informed showing on a very cold day, the State Land Board decided to move forward with these sales.  Cascadia Wildlandsill continue … Continue reading The Rally for the Elliott State Forest was Encouraging in spite of the Outcome.

Cascadia Wildlands Releases Reports Exploring Solutions to the Elliott State Forest Clearcutting Conundrum


Cascadia Wildlands recently released two reports to explore finding a lasting solution to the Elliott State Forest clearcutting conundrum. Recall, the State Land Board in Oregon is required to raise revenue on its common school fund (CSF) land holdings. Approximately 90% of the 93,000-acre Elliott State Forest in the Oregon Coast Range is CSF land. … Continue reading Cascadia Wildlands Releases Reports Exploring Solutions to the Elliott State Forest Clearcutting Conundrum

Court Halts Clearcutting in Murrelet Habitat on Oregon State Forests


November 27, 2012 — A federal court judge has halted 11 timber sales and all logging activities in occupied marbled murrelet sites in the Tillamook, Clatsop and Elliott state forests. The ruling stops logging in murrelet habitat until the resolution of a case filed by Cascadia Wildlands, the Center for Biological Diversity and Portland Audubon Society asserting that the state’s logging practices are harming the federally protected seabird in violation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). 

Press Release: Oregon Suspends Clearcutting in the Elliott State Forest


November 14, 2012 — After a lawsuit by conservation groups, the State of Oregon has suspended logging of 914 acres of old-growth forest on the Elliott State Forest that is habitat for the threatened marbled murrelet. Previously, ten timber sales were suspended in response to the lawsuit filed in July by Cascadia Wildlands, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Audubon Society of Portland. The suit asserts that the state is harming the rare seabird by logging its nesting habitat in violation of the Endangered Species Act.

The Flying Potato is Famous: Marbled Murrelet Media Madness


For a little bird often described as a flying potato, the federally listed marbled murrelet is getting a lot of well-deserved attention these days.  Why?  Mainly because of Cascadia Wildlands et al. v. Kitzhaber et al. our suit against the state of Oregon to halt harm to this soaring spud with our co-litigants Center for Biological … Continue reading The Flying Potato is Famous: Marbled Murrelet Media Madness

Press Release: State of Oregon Suspends 10 State Forest Timber Sales in Marbled Murrelet Habitat


July 2, 2012 — The State of Oregon has suspended operations on 10 timber sales in marbled murrelet habitat one month after Cascadia Wildlands, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Audubon Society of Portland filed a lawsuit alleging the state’s logging practices in the Tillamook, Clatsop, and Elliott State Forests are illegally “taking” the imperiled seabird in violation of the Endangered Species Act.  To prevent additional murrelet habitat from being lost while the case works its way through the court system, the conservation groups filed an injunction request in federal court to halt sales and logging in the occupied murrelet habitat pending the outcome of the lawsuit.