cjcj, I got a question for you:
How many timber sales have you laid out, marked, etc.?
I've done quite a bit of it, along with all sorts of other natural resource management work.
I'm not opposed to logging at all, when its done correctly, which I've stated many, many times on this board, the same with grazing. By the way, choosing not to manage and "have nature take care of itself" is a management decision.
As far as spraying bark beetles...
That all depends. If its to hold off the infestation for a few years so it can be logged, yeah its a worthwhile investment. If its being done just to reduce the infestation and the wood isnt planned to be utilized, then its a waste of money. You would be throwing money at a battle you will never win.
1-pointer may have the answer, but I couldnt and wouldnt say that fire suppression and stand density, mismanagement or anthing else is the problem. I'd have to see it before I made that kind of statement.
Without having seen the area in question I'd guess that stand age, tree size, and tree species, combined with drought are the reasons for the bark beetle infestation, I have my doubts that any mismanagement is the reason.