I'm pleased to have this opportunity to give credit to timber industry leaders for dropping their opposition of wilderness designation for rivers and forests in Southwest Oregon.

Thanks to the American Forest Resource Council-negotiated compromise with Oregon Wild and other wilderness interest groups, the Wild Rogue Wilderness proposal for the internationally renowned Rogue River region can move forward.

Unfortunately for the Umpqua, all three Douglas County commissioners don't deserve any wilderness credit today. Their recent anti-wilderness letter to legislators which was read to the public at the Board of Commissioner's meeting on May 19, 2010, makes it clear they are not wilderness supporters or community collaborators.

The Umpqua has many timber industry professionals who are leaders in the AFRC, as well as a growing conservation community that embraces wilderness. The anti-wilderness stance the commissioners have taken shouldn't get any credit from conservationists or industry leaders who have worked hard to develop the collaborative agreement for the Rogue.

Valuable wild places do still exist in the Umpqua. The opportunity to continue wilderness proposals for areas such as Devil's Staircase in the coastal main Umpqua River watershed, Cougar Bluff in the North Umpqua, Donegan Prairie in the South Umpqua need commissioners who consider constituents' interests.

The current commissioners are not the right people for that job unless they reconsider their opposition of wilderness.

Wilderness gives, it doesn't take away. With agreements like AFRC and Oregon Wild's for the Rogue watershed, counties, businesses, educators, and you and I will benefit.

Fortunately, Congress has had the foresight to give consideration to wild places like Mount Theilsen in the Umpqua. It's time to consider more. Conservation of this type for wildlife, and its habitat provides tourism, restoration, job, and academic opportunities. All worthy of credit where credit is due!

Penny Lind

Roseburg