At a meeting Thursday between timber industry representatives and U-S Forest Service officials, the timbermen said they could be part of the solution to the growing bark beetle problem.

But if nothing is done, they said, the forests will suffer.

Bill Petersmann is a forester with Bighorn Logging. He says trees already are dying in the forest, but that logging could help remove infested trees and promote new growth in the forest.

Brush Creek-Hayden district ranger Scott Armentrout urged the timber industry representatives to express their opinions during the environmental assessments of timber sales. Armentrout said too often only environmentalists and off-road enthusiasts comment during environmental assessments, while the timber industry remains silent.