Oregon lost 2,069 farms and 667,000 acres of farmland between 2017 and 2022. Additionally, the Willamette Valley has lost 57% of the wetlands and nearly all of the native wet prairie lands it once had.

The proposed 84-acre Amazon warehouse site off Awbrey Lane in northwest Eugene includes wet prairie, seasonal pools and habitat for animals and native plants. 

Right now, the environment, global warming and climate change are issues no one wants to talk about. There are too many other pressing issues like health care and the economy that get the headlines. But the truth is the truth, and here are some facts: More than 178,000 deaths were caused by heatwaves in 2023, with more than half attributed to human-caused climate change. Pollution from fossil fuels killed 2.52 million people. Another 154,000 deaths were linked to wildfire smoke. These numbers are rising every year.

The Amazon warehouse project would speed up the loss of precious farmlands, wipe out some of the last remaining wetlands and animal habitat, increase pollution and contribute to global warming.

Good decisions are made when we know the facts. That’s how we make a better world for future generations. Don’t let our legacy be one that chooses to support developers instead of planning for the world our children and grandchildren will inherit. The Amazon warehouse proposal would employ robots, not people, bring traffic congestion and hurt local businesses as well.

Mark Peabody
Eugene