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Get the Facts!
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 Wild Forest Protection: A Proud Legacy For Our Children "We want the active and zealous help of every man far-sighted enough to realize the importance from the standpoint of the nation's welfare in the future of preserving the forests." President Theodore Roosevelt; Creator of the Modern National Forest System Background In January 2001, following years of discussion and unprecedented public input, the US Forest Service issued the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. This critical policy protects the last 60 million acres of wild roadless areas of National Forests from most logging and road building. It stands as the most significant land conservation policy of the last 100 years. Roadless Policy Still At Risk
After a federal judge in Idaho sided with the timber industry and stopped the U.S. Forest Service from implementing the policy, the Bush administration on July 10, 2001, issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, posing broad "scoping" questions, with a 60-day public comment period. During this 60 day comment period more than 500,000 concerned Americans submitted official comments in support of the Roadless Rule to the Forest Serivce. The Roadless Area Conservation Policy:
Unprecedented Public Involvement
The Forest Service held more than 600 public meetings throughout the country and received a record-breaking 1.6 million+ official comments, more than 95% of which supported the strongest possible protection for remaining roadless areas. As of September 2001, more than 2 million Americans have voiced their support for the policy. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, "Never before have the American people so actively participated in helping to decide how their public lands should be managed." Overwhelming Support For Protection
Editorial Support Strong Hundreds of newspapers from around the country are supporting the Roadless Area Conservation rule. Click here to go to the Press Room for a sampling. Support By Hunting and Fishing Community America's hunters and anglers support the protection of Roadless areas. Surveys find that 86% of anglers and 83% of hunters support conservation. Click here for more information on Polling. Faith Community Support For Protection In July 2000, two thousand religious leaders asked the Forest Service to protect National Forest roadless areas. "The instruction to care for creation is found in Scripture as well as other religious and ethical teachings," the letter's signatories stated. "It is often in wild places, such as pristine forests, that we encounter Creation's sheer magnificence. There, in awe and serenity, our hearts turn to God." Scientific Support For Protection In October 2000, 393 scientists from across the nation wrote, "In light of the irreplaceable functions these [roadless] areas serve, it is wise to provide them as much protection from development as possible." Protection Best Averts Fire Risk The scientific community has found that roadless areas are the least at risk for dangerous wildfires. Roadless areas are far more fire resistant than landscapes that have been crisscrossed with roads and logged, leaving behind slash, debris, and dense underbrush. Even the forest service makes this reality clear. Click here to see the Forest Service's Q&A on Fires. Roadless Policy Threatened By Roll-Back The forest conservation policy faces threats from those with economic or ideological interests in continuing to exploit our nation's last major roadless areas. President Bush's administration has delayed implementation and refused to defend the policy in court, preferring to plan amendments to the policy. Now, the policy, and our last wild National Forests have been put in further jeopardy. In May 2001, an Idaho Federal Judge granted the timber industry's request for an injunction and prevented the policy from taking effect, leaving the forests at risk. President Bush is now considering how to proceed. Faced with overwhelming public support for the policy he is left to listen either to the American people or to the special interests.
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A poll completed in April 2001 by The Mellman Group revealed strong national support for the forest conservation policy. A strong majority of voters (67%) favored the policy with 49% saying their support is strong. 76% of Democrats, 66% of Independents and 58% of Republicans support protection. 71% of people from the Northeast, 68% of Midwesterners, 65% of Southerners and 64% of those in the West favor the policy.Copyright 1998-2001 Heritage Forests Campaign. All Rights Reserved.