The show was broadcast from Minnesota's newest residential environmental learning center. The Prairie Wetlands Learning Center is the only facility of its type in the country focusing on prairie and wetlands and the first such venture to be operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It opened in August.

HOUR ONE: Timber Series
Hour One in RealAudio 14.4

MPR's Rachel Reabe presents stories by reporters Leif Enger and Mary Losure which portray the timber industry past and present and describe its impact on the environment and economy of Northern Minnesota. (Each of the stories - with complete text, audio, and supplemental images - are available on the Our State, Our Forests homepage.)

HOUR TWO: Live Discussion about Timber Harvest
Hour Two in RealAudio 14.4

GUESTS
Betsy Daub, forest program director for the Minnesota state office of the National Audubon Society.
Wayne Brandt, executive vice president for Minnesota Forest Industries.
Jim Sanders, forest supervisor for the Superior National Forest.

TOPIC OF DISCUSSION
Timber harvesting in Minnesota has increased dramatically in the past 20 years to supply the state's $7.8 billion forest products industry. Some 1,000 truckloads of wood are delivered to Minnesota mills every day. By 2001, the state's timber harvest is expected to reach 4.3 million cords, a 60 percent increase since 1980.

Environmentalists are concerned about the impact on the forests, home to a rich variety of plants and animals. They claim the methods used to cut trees in Minnesota forests and the rate of cutting are threatening this important resource.

Spokesmen for Minnesota Forest Industries insist they are good stewards of the land and have a long-standing commitment to the health of the state's forests. They claim Minnesota's forests can readily sustain current and increased annual harvest levels.

PROGRAM CREDITS
Site producer: Bob Kelleher
Engineer: Rick Hebzynski
Host: Rachel Reabe