Logging in the BWCA
Logging took place in the BWCA from the late 1800's until the installment of the 1978 Act. Since logging took place this long, it was difficult to agree on whether or not it was an activity that should cease.
Many people fought to continue logging because it was an important economical value in the BWCA. Many people believed in using the trees for logging because "logging was progressive, helped the economy, supplied jobs, and used old timber productively. Logging even helped the BWCA because it allowed the area to have better watershed protection, good game species, and destroyed insect and disease epidemics. The logging industry in the BWCA was very stable and because loggers removed trees from canoe routes, logged during the winter and under restrictions, they felt there wasn't a problem."- James Gladden
Others begged to differ.
Preservationists argued that logging interfered with the wilderness experience in the BWCA because of the noise and tracks created by the equipment needed. Preservationists believed the BWCA couldn't be a true wilderness with logging present.
"Logging is incompatible with the primitive character of the BWCA wilderness"- preservationist.
"Logging is incompatible with the primitive character of the BWCA wilderness"- preservationist.
In the end, because of the 1978 Act, the rights of loggers were taken away in favor of the responsibility to protect the BWCA wilderness.