Timber sustainability in question

The impacts of wildfire and the mountain pine beetle have had serious negative impacts on the Black Hills National Forest, prompting an ongoing discussion about the best way to manage the forest’s health and sustainability into the future.

An advisory board formed to gather data about the standing forest inventory and provide advice to the U.S. National Forest Service believes the best way to manage the problem is to maintain commercial timber programs at their current levels.

However, a draft report from the U.S. National Forest Service itself recommends slashing the annual harvest in...