Sister City visitors learn about logging

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. -- Roseburg's Sister Cities Association is guiding a group of sixteen Japanese delegates through Southern Oregon this week.

The delegates arrived in Portland Wednesday and toured the Willamette Vineyard Winery.

Thursday, they went on a logging day trip up the North Umpqua River to learn about timber sales and reforestation. Janet Johnston, the Roseburg Sister Cities Vice President, told KPIC News that the visitors always enjoy their trips here. "It's interesting for them to learn about our area," she said. "They always talk about the big nature of Oregon, and this is a sample of it."

The delegates asked lots of questions about timber harvesting in Oregon.

Umpqua Contracting Officer Steve Nelson told them that the Umpqua has one million acres of land, and they grow 300-million board feet of trees each year. "It's fairly rare to have a group this size and especially with the Sister Cities, communication is kind of difficult. But, there's not a lot of room to work and get close to logging operations because it's so dangerous."

The Sister Cities Association has been exchanging visits with small groups for nineteen years.

Johnston said the basis for the program is friendship and understanding between different countries.

They plan to make a visit to Japan next year.