During my time as a student at Fort Lewis College in the late ’70s, I came to cherish the beauty and spirit of Durango and its surrounding forests. It’s heartening to see such thoughtful journalism emerging from the area, especially on issues as vital as forest management (Herald, Oct. 15).
The “Fix Our Forests Act” may sound constructive, but it’s deeply flawed. Prioritizing logging over science, community input and ecological integrity is a dangerous path. Our forests are more than timber – they’re complex ecosystems, cultural touchstones and climate buffers. This legislation risks undermining decades of progress in collaborative stewardship and science-based conservation.
I oppose the Act for many reasons: It weakens environmental review, sidelines Indigenous voices and promotes commercial interests at the expense of biodiversity and wildfire resilience. Forest health cannot be “fixed” with chain saws alone. We need policies rooted in ecological science, not industry shortcuts.
Thank you to The Durango Herald for elevating this conversation. Let’s protect what makes the Four Corners so extraordinary – not just for those of us who’ve loved it for decades, but for generations to come. Oppose “Fix Our Forests.”
It is a faux fix.
Jennifer Normoyle
Hillsborough, California
