Save the Roadless Area Conservation Rule

After over two million people spoke out in favor of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, President Clinton signed it into effect in 2001. The Roadless Rule placed 58.5 millions acres of national forestland under protection from the logging, mining and drilling industries.

However, despite campaign promises to the contrary, President Bush delayed implementation of the Rule once he took office. Since then he has taken steps to overturn the Rule altogether, favoring corporate interests over the voice of the American people.

On December 23, 2003 (two days before Christmas when the media would be inattentive) President Bush exempted our two largest national forests from the Rule. Both of these forests are in Alaska; the Tongass National Forest (our nation's largest), and the Chugach National Forest (our nation's second largest). By excluding the Tongass and the Chugach, the Bush administration allows for nearly 25 percent of the original forestland protected by the Rule to be gutted by industrial logging.

Then, in July 2004, the Bush administration put forward a proposal to exempt ALL national forests from the Rule, leaving protection discretion up to individual state governors. Without protection, logging, mining and energy companies would be able to plow, bulldoze and pillage through our forests in search of the last of our natural resources.

Thousands of you have already sent comments in urging the Forest Service to uphold the Roadless Rule. The Forest Service has extended its comment period and will continue to accept comments until November 15, 2004.

Take Action Now!
Our National Forests Are in Jeopardy