Help Stop Logging in our Wild Forests

On June 9th, the U.S. Forest Service announced that it would allow logging in wild portions of America's two largest national forests, the Tongass and the Chugach. Under the plan, undeveloped, roadless areas in national forests across the country could also be opened to logging and road building.

The move threatens millions of acres of wild places held dear by Americans, including 300,000 acres of centuries-old trees in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska, habitat for eagles, wolves and brown bear.

But even as the U.S.F.S. moves to gut the roadless area protection rule, a bipartisan group in the Congress has introduced legislation to codify it and to permanently protect over 58 million acres of spectacular roadless land across the country.

Please take action now and ask your Senators and Representative to co-sponsor the bill.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Please co-sponsor Roadless Conservation Act

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

A bi-partisan group of lawmakers recently introduced legislation in both houses that would codify the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which protects the last remaining roadless areas on America's national forests.

The Roadless Rule was put into effect after an unprecedented number of Americans voiced their support for it. It is a conservative measure that protects the best of what is left in undeveloped lands on our forests.

This legislation is even more important now that the U.S. Forest Service has announced that it will allow logging in the Tongass and Chugach National Forests in Alaska and that the agency will consider special waivers to allow logging in national forest roadless areas throughout the country.

I hope you will co-sponsor the Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2003 (S 1200; HR 2369). And, if you have already signed on, thank you!

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
June 10, 2003

Background Information

BACKGROUND: The Forest Service announcement was made June 9th by Mark Rey, former timber industry lobbyist who is now the Undersecretary of Agriculture in charge of the U.S. Forest Service. Rey said the Forest Service will write new regulations to let governors seek exemptions to the roadless rule across the national forest system. The move undermines the roadless conservation rule, which had set aside 58.5 million acres of remaining wild places on our national forests.

That will drastically change the status of our national forests. Today, they are places prized for their wildlife habitat, clean drinking water, opportunities for recreation and solitude. Under the Rey proposal, these forests will become pawns to the short-term economic urges of individual states and the timber industry.

The landmark Roadless Area Conservation Rule was set in place by the Clinton Administration in January 2001, after two years of study and unprecedented public involvement. It placed off limits to most logging and road-building 58.5 million acres of roadless lands on our national forests.

Public comment on the proposed rule set records: over 1.6 million Americans weighed in on behalf of roadless area protection. Public enthusiasm for the rule was matched only by opposition from the timber industry. The industry quickly brought suit against the rule. Though the Bush Administration refused to defend the rule against the industry challenge, a federal appeals court upheld it. But before 2001 was out, Rey's Forest Service issued its own temporary directive to supplant the roadless protection rule.

The Roadless Area Conservation Act would codify protection for the remaining 58.5 million acres of wild lands on our forests. Please act now and ask your Senators and Representative to co-sponsor this legislation.