I was just reading some updates on the Coconino Forest Service website and learned about a “wildlands” permit.

“….authorize collecting live plants and trees from National Forest lands for personal use…..Permits are available for aspen and for coniferous trees (Douglas Fir, White Fir, Ponderosa Pine, Pinyon Pine, and Juniper.) Aspen up to 20 feet tall and conifers up to 12 feet tall may be dug up. However, for the best chance of successful transplanting, foresters recommend that trees selected be much smaller in size, less than 8′ for aspen and 4′ for conifers. The fee is $0.50 per foot for aspen and $1.00 per foot for conifers, with a minimum fee of $20.00 per permit.”

Anyway, I never heard of that before, but I immidiatly remember hearing something on NPR years ago about the growing problem of tree theft. I found the archived link and you can listen to the segment. The segment basically blames meth addicts, and even though they’re not talking about the Coconino Forest it just seemed strange and ironic. Does anyone know many years have they been giving out this permit?

And to show you how lame NPR can be sometimes, the segment I listened to was described as this:

“NPR’s Elizabeth Arnold reports that millions of dollars’ worth of timber is being stolen from the national forests. Some of the thieves are drug addicts, but others are commercial timber companies.”

….it was made possible for me by the following advertisement:

I think I’ve made the dots incredibly easy to connect here…

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