NEWS ADVISORY

Embargoed until Monday, September 29, 2003

Contact:          Jeff Juel at 406-728-5733

CONSERVATION GROUP TO RELEASE OLD GROWTH REPORT

Ecology Center offers to work with Forest Service to avoid litigation

Missoula, Montana --This coming Monday, September 29 the Ecology Center will hold a news conference about the release of a new, comprehensive report that summarizes the results of our investigation into the issue of old growth in thirteen National Forests spanning Montana and Northern Idaho. The conference will be held at the conference room in our office at 801 Sherwood St., Suite B, Missoula at 1:00 p.m. MDT. Reporters may attend in person or by conference call. The dial-up information is written below.

Jeff Juel, the author of the report "Old Growth at a Crossroads," will be on hand to answer questions about the report’s conclusions regarding Forest Plan implementation, old-growth forests and the wildlife species that depend upon them.

Tom Woodbury, the Missoula attorney who has argued the Ecology Center’s cases on the recent Kootenai and Lolo National Forest lawsuits, will also attend. Mr. Woodbury has successfully litigated old-growth issues on national forests in Utah, Idaho and Montana.

The Ecology Center will be calling on the Forest Service to work with them cooperatively in crafting both short-term and long-term scientific strategies to conserve old-growth wildlife species, in order to avoid future litigation.

To attend by telephone:

At 1:00 p.m. Monday, September 29, dial:                            1-918-222-7001

After the voice prompt, dial the conference code number:     5439

- 30 -