In the face of the most significant dismantling of environmental
law in US history, Greenpeace is stepping up its forest campaign
activities calling for an immediate national moratorium on large-
scale commercial logging and road construction on federal forests.
The moratorium would remain in effect until the mismanagement of
forestlands under the administration of the U.S. Forest Service and
Bureau of Land Management has been thoroughly investigated by the
government. Greenpeace is also calling for the establishment of new
federally controlled protected areas, such as national parks and
wilderness areas.
The administration’s decision to exempt all national forests
from the Roadless Rule follows an earlier exemption of the Tongass
and Chugach National Forests in Alaska, America’s largest and
second largest national forests. The Tongass is home to the
northern extent of the largest coastal temperate rainforest on the
planet, the rarest forest type on Earth.
The Administration’s piecemeal dismantling of the Roadless Rule
is in contradiction to a campaign promise made by the president
when running for office. The Rule, enacted by President Clinton in
2001, prohibits road building in over 58 million acres of unspoiled
national forests and was overwhelmingly supported by the American
public. Over six hundred public meetings were held and over 2
million people in fifty states commented; 95 percent spoke in favor
of the rule. The Roadless Rule is also has broad support over party
lines. A 2001 opinion poll showed 76 percent of Democrats, 58
percent of Republicans and 66 percent of Independents in support of
the rule.
The administration’s latest proposal
would force state governors to petition the Secretary of
Agriculture, and in particular, Undersecretary for Natural
Resources, Mark Rey, a former 20 -year timber lobbyist, to keep
protection for specific roadless areas in their states. Already
several western governors whose states contain the majority of the
roadless areas have stated their opposition to the Bush proposal
due to the grave impacts it will have on our public lands. We urge
all governors to publicly oppose the Roadless Conservation Rule
evisceration. Meanwhile, Greenpeace will continue our campaign to
protect America’s public lands in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and
across the country.
