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Keep Idaho Forests Wild
The Bush Administration and the state of Idaho are seeking to change the way more than seven million acres of roadless forests are managed in the gem state. The change could affect two-thirds of Idaho's unprotected wilderness and result in an eight-fold increase in logging on roadless forests.
Please send an email to the Forest Service (with a copy to Idaho's governor, if you live in Idaho), supporting continued, full protection from development for Idaho's magnificent roadless forests.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Keep Idaho Forests Wild
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
The American people retain more roadless forests in Idaho than any other state except Alaska. These 9.3 million acres of roadless National Forests are a national treasure. I support full protection of all these lands with the same level of protection as the rest our nations' roadless lands under the 2001 Roadless Conservation Rule.
I support Alternative 1 for the National Forest System Lands in Idaho Roadless Areas, which is full protection under the 2001 Roadless Rule. I want future generations to enjoy the same landscape as we have today and I want the same ecological values to be retained as our national legacy.
A different set of rules, with less protection than the rest of our National Forest roadless lands, should not be approved in a State of Idaho Petition. Allowing logging, road building and phosphate strip mining on more than half of the Idaho roadless lands is not the same protection as the 2001 Roadless Rule. Allowing logging on two-thirds of Idaho roadless lands is not the same protection. Only Alternative 1, the same as the national 2001 Roadless Rule, provides the same protection.
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
March 25, 2008
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The state with the greatest amount of roadless forests in the Lower 48 states – Idaho – is threatened by a plan to reduce protection of these national treasures.
The Bush administration proposes to reduce protection to allow logging on 7.6 million acres of our national forests, out of the 9.3 million acres of roadless forests in Idaho. All roadless forests across the nation, all 58 million acres including Idaho's 9.3 million acres, were granted equal protection from logging and road building in the 2001 Roadless Conservation Rule.
Idaho roadless forests combine with 4 million acres of already protected lands in the National Wilderness System, to create the largest intact forest ecosystem in the Lower 48 states, unmatched by any landscape outside of Alaska.
The pristine roadless forests of Idaho should be protected for future generations under the 2001 Roadless Conservation Rule, with all 9.3 million acres guaranteed equal protection. These national forest lands should not be granted loopholes for logging and road building under the proposed Idaho Roadless Rule.
The elimination of all roadless area protection for all 609,000 acres of so-called General Forest, Rangeland, Grassland category is unacceptable.
The reduction of protection to allow logging on 7.6 million acres in the so-called Backcountry, Primitive and General Forest categories is unacceptable.
These are national forests of national value, for all Americans to use and to enjoy. I want all our national roadless forests managed with equal protection for future generations.
Additional points:
1. Permitting road building on 5.8 million acres and logging on 7.6 million acres in Idaho is less protection than the 2001 Roadless Conservation Rule, which applied to all 9.3 million acres of national roadless forest in Idaho.
2. These roadless lands contain some of the richest wildlife and fish habitats, including strongholds for threatened and endangered Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, bull trout, grizzly bears, gray wolves, lynx and woodland caribou. These lands and waters must be protected for wildlife and fish.
3. Americans from all across the nation use and enjoy these lands for hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, watching wildlife and experiencing the beauties of our lands. All Americans have a stake in these lands.
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