At this point, I'm pretty sure most of these issues are decided based more on emotional than logical or even legal precedents. The wildlife folks are so used to getting their way, and the agencies they push around so used to losing the battle, that due diligence is an afterthought. My suspicion is that this will continue until it's simply too expensive to buy timber products, after which point some court case will rule in favor of the timber sale, setting the stage for others to do likewise. In the distant future, I would like to see an equilibrium where both sides' basic needs are met. The business will not likely ever look like the heyday of logging in the 60's and 70's, nor will it look like it does today. I also suspect that climate change will drive some policy decisions, particularly the link between fire suppression and salvage, which have been at the center of a good portion of the hottest debates of late. My guess is that salvage will get easier, but it will be too late so save out much of the volume, so a return to timely thinning will be a viable discussion again.
