Heritage Forests Campaign News Release

July 28, 2004

Statement of Robert Vandermark; Co-Director, Heritage Forests Campaign
On How Bush National Forests Giveaway Threatens Parks

Washington, DC (July 28, 2004) Good afternoon. My name is Robert Vandermark and I am the co-director of the Heritage Forests Campaign. The Heritage Forests Campaign is an alliance of conservationists, wildlife advocates, clergy, educators, scientists, and other Americans who are working together to uphold protection of our National Forests.

I want to thank the Campaign to Protect America’s Lands and the Coalition of Concerned National Park Service Retirees for releasing their new report, "Collateral Damage." The report gives a sobering look at how the Bush Administration proposed national forest giveaway announced earlier this month not only threatens those national forests, but adjoining public treasures in places like Yosemite and Yellowstone National Parks.

The Bush plan eviscerates current forests protections embodied in the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, and instead abdicates national forest stewardship to state and local politicians who could either petition for protection of roadless areas in their states – or for more logging, mining and drilling. The substitute policy announced is entirely unworkable and does not have the national interest at heart. Few, if any, governors have the expertise and are going to spend their limited resources and political capital asking the Forest Service to protect these remaining wild areas.

Let us be clear: the day this proposal takes effect, millions of acres of our last wild forests will be immediately at risk.

A 60-day public comment period began on July 16th. During the public comment period, we are calling on Americans across country to tell the Bush Administration to keep the roadless rule in place in the Lower 48 and in Alaska’s Chugach National Forest and to reinstate the Rule in Alaska’s Tongass Rainforest. Please visit ourforests.org and make your comments count.

Thank you. This concludes my opening statement.

• Campaign to Protect America's Lands Collateral Damage; How the Bush Administration's Repeal of the Roadless Rule Threatens National Parks - Main Page
• Collateral Damage Full Report

For additional information, contact Robert Vandermark, at 202-887-8800.

The Heritage Forests Campaign is an alliance of conservationists, wildlife advocates, clergy, educators, scientists, and other Americans who are working together to uphold protection of our National Forests. To learn more, visit: ourforests.org