US's Last Wild Forests Still Unprotected Despite Clinton Promise
11/18/98
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Title: US's Last Wild Forests Still Unprotected Despite Clinton Promise
Source: American Lands
Status: Distribute freely with proper credit to source
Date: 11/18/98
Contact: Steve Holmer or Liz Butler, American Lands, 202/547-9400
America's Last Wild Forests Still Unprotected Despite President Clinton's
Promised Action
700 religious, scientific, conservation leaders urge V.P. Gore to
intervene in the Forest Service policy-making process
WASHINGTON -- Over 700 religious, scientific, and conservation leaders
called on Vice President Gore today to make good on promises to protect
America's remaining unprotected forests. In a joint letter, the leaders
urged the Vice President to ensure that the Forest Service saves the last
of these important areas.
"A year has passed since President Clinton promised to protect Americans'
last scenic wild forests, but they remain unprotected," said Randi Spivak,
President of American Lands. "The U.S. Forest Service is undermining the
President's commitment to manage these areas through science, not
politics."
At stake are 60 million acres, or about 30% of the National Forest
system--still wild and roadless, but unprotected from logging, mining, and
oil and gas drilling and the destructive roads those activities require.
These threatened areas are America's Heritage Forests.
Signers of the letter ask that Gore take advantage of this "unprecedented
opportunity to leave a legacy of Heritage Forests for future
generations...[and] adopt a final policy at the termination of the 18-
month moratorium that forever protects America's Heritage Forests."
* These unprotected wilderness areas provide unmatched opportunities for
camping, hiking, and other recreational pursuits, valuable habitat for
fish and wildlife, and abundant clean drinking water.
* The interim policy explicitly exempts vast tracts of America's Heritage
Forests located in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and elsewhere. It does
not protect smaller, ecologically significant roadless areas, and allows
logging and mining to continue in some roadless areas.
* The Forest Service views the final policy (due at the end of the 18-
month moratorium), as a "roads policy" only, addressing how new roads will
be built into these roadless areas, rather than as a policy to keep
existing roadless wildlands pristine.
* Leadership by the Administration will be necessary to protect wild
forest areas.
"The Clinton-Gore Administration has an historic opportunity to make the
moratorium permanent and apply it to all 60 million acres of America's
Heritage Forests, protecting them for future generations," said Ken Rait,
director of the Americans for Heritage Forests, an umbrella group for
dozens of local and national environmental groups working on the issue.
"A true science-based policy will permanently protect our remaining
Heritage Forests from being decimated by logging roads, clearcutting, and
mining."
The temporary moratorium was to be announced this week but still awaits
review by the White House. Continued delay has left forests that would
otherwise be protected by the moratorium open to logging and road
building.
For example, the Dome Peak timber sale in Colorado's White River National
Forest--which involves logging and road building inside an unprotected
wilderness--could be awarded to loggers next week.
President Clinton promised something quite different when he signed the
Forest Service's 1998 pending plan on Nov. 14, 1997. In that statement a
year ago he said:
"...the Forest Service is developing a scientifically based policy for
managing roadless areas in our national forests. These last remaining
wild areas are precious to millions of Americans and key to protecting
clean water and abundant wildlife habitat, and providing recreation
opportunities. These unspoiled places must be managed through science,
not politics."
Wednesday's letter has been signed by over 250 scientists, and by
religious organizations including the Coalition on the Environment and
Jewish Life, Christian Society of the Green Cross, and the Christian
Environmental Council.
"United Methodist policy states that our covenant with God requires us to
be stewards, protectors, and defenders of creation," wrote Dr. Thom White
Wolf Fassett, General Secretary of the General Board of Church and Society
of the United Methodist Church in a separate letter to Vice President
Gore. "We urge the administration to adopt a strong and effective
roadless area policy. Our Heritage Forests must be protected, permanently
and fully, as parks and wilderness."
The public can learn more about efforts to save America's Heritage Forests
on the Internet, at http://www.ourforests.org. That site has links to
many groups working on forest issues around the country and information on
how to become a Virtual Volunteer.
To subscribe or unsubscribe, please send a message to
wafcdc@americanlands.org along with your complete contact information
(name, org, address & phone #)
Steve Holmer
Campaign Coordinator
American Lands
726 7th Street, SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
202/547-9105
202/547-9213 fax
wafcdc@americanlands.org