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Colorado's pristine forests need your help today!
Colorado is proposing a dangerous policy that would weaken federal protections of its roadless forests. Under Colorado's proposal, the state's pristine forests would be opened to coal mining and a network of new roads. Write President Obama and ask him to direct the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to suspend the state of Colorado's effort to approve a weakened roadless rule and uphold the 2001 national rule instead. Edit and send the letter below or click on 'Tell me more' for more information.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , I'm writing you today to ask that you direct the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to immediately suspend the state of Colorado's effort to approve a state-based roadless rule that would open up national forests in Colorado to road building and other destructive activities. Instead, Colorado's forest should be afforded the same protection as national forests across the country under the national 2001 rule. You have already expressed great support for protecting roadless forests and we ask that you keep fighting for this worthy cause. Roadless forests play a critical role in the health of our planet and our communities. They protect sources of drinking water, serve as home to limitless recreational opportunities, provide habitat for wildlife, and help defend us against the impact of global warming. Please direct the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to suspend the state's rulemaking efforts and instead support the national rule to protect Colorado' national forests to the standard they deserve. P.S. Please also eliminate the Bush-era exemption to roadless protection for the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. As you know, America's largest national rain forest is indispensable to salmon fishermen, native cultures, and local economies.
Sincerely, |
Campaign Launched: |
| Background Information |
For most of the past eight years, the rule that has protected these forests — the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule — has survived on-going legal attacks and administrative maneuvers by the former Bush administration. Conservation organizations and people across the country have had to join forces to repel these attempts to weaken protection for our roadless forests.
Unfortunately, this hasn't stopped officials in Colorado from pushing for a weaker rule for that state.
The Colorado rule would allow broad exceptions for road building and logging associated with new coal mining and wildfire fuel reduction projects far removed from communities where they will be ineffective in protecting communities from fire.
We appreciate the state of Colorado's work to address these concerns, but we believe the Colorado rule would more effectively address this issue by prohibiting construction of new roads for any leases issued post-2001. Application of the provisions in the proposed rule could jeopardize valuable wildlife habitat, clean water sources, and popular recreation areas.
The Wilderness Society needs your help. Contact President Obama today and ask him to direct the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to suspend the state of Colorado's effort to approve a roadless rule that would open up so much national forest land in Colorado to exploitation. Tell him we need to stop the degradation of the wild character of places like Currant Creek that protect our drinking water, conserve land that is home to countless recreational activities, help defend the country against the harmful effects of global warming, and provide habitat for wildlife.
