Sen. Jon Tester criticized proposed Forest Service budget cuts that could trim spending on timber sales by 15 percent next year.

“We need to be increasing timber harvests,” Tester said during a recent conference call. “This proposal sets us back.”

The Flathead National Forest sold about 27 million board feet of timber in 2012. This year, the projection is about 26 million board feet, although litigation could hold up some sales.

This year’s planned sales include 4 million to 5 million board feet of firewood — trees that are dead or already down and salvaged by private individuals.

Tester joined a bipartisan group of senators who objected the proposed budget cuts, a result of sequestration mandated by Congress. The Democratic senator said the Forest Service as a whole should meet or exceed its 3 billion board feet per year restoration agenda.

In his second term, Tester continues to push for his Forest Jobs and Recreation Act, which is a blend of timber sales and wilderness creation. None of it is in the Flathead National Forest.

Former Republican Congressman Denny Rehberg had opposed the bill, saying it would guarantee wilderness creation but not timber sales. But current Republican Congressman Steve Daines seems to be taking a more moderate view toward land use bills in Montana and is considering Tester’s legislation, Tester said.

“Which is positive,” the senator noted.