BLM lets amateur lumberjacks harvest the holiday spirit

摘要

CAÑON CITY, Colo. - When it comes to cutting down a Christmas tree onpublic lands, Bureau of Land Management official Jim Bowmer offerswould-be holiday lumberjacks a few tips: Get a permit and bring along abow saw.And one other thing: Measure the ceilings before you leave home."The thing that always surprised me, for whatever reason, I would find agood tree, I would cut it down, I'd bring it home, and it would always be afoot or 2 taller than my ceiling," said Bowmer, who serves as deputy divisionchief of BLM's Forest, Rangeland, Riparian and Plant Conservationprogram.Bowmer oversees BLM's Christmas tree harvest program, through whichindividuals can purchase permits to cut down holiday trees - species likepinyon pine, juniper and alpine fir - on public lands across 10 states.