Oregon Public Broadcasting

The public is invited to a two-day meeting this week on the independent review of the federal government's recovery plan for the Northern Spotted Owl.  As Andrew Theen reports, there's already controversy over how the review is being conducted.

Portland scientist Stephen Courtney hand-picked the panel of scientists that will review the controversial spotted owl recovery plan.  The group will study all the science on the owl, including harsh peer reviews of the proposed government plan.

The panel has until the end of February to submit its report, but the report's contents won't be made known until the final government recovery plan comes out in April.

Ashland based ecologist Dominick DellaSala calls the secrecy about the report's findings another instance of "political interference" in scientific matters.

Dominick DellaSala: "The danger in that is that the science can say one thing and then Fish and Wildlife Service can issue a policy directive that is in conflict with the science, and we may not know that for months."

DellaSala estimates there are only five to ten thousand Northern Spotted Owls left in Oregon.

Online:

Science Review of NSO Draft Recovery Plan