Heritage Forests Campaign News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2005

CONTACT:
Tony Iallonardo
202-887-8855 (ph)

HFC Applauds Bipartisan Effort to Protect Last Wild National Forests

Congress Responds to Public's Will with Introduction of Roadless Conservation Act

Statement of Robert Vandermark, Director, Heritage Forests Campaign

Washington, DC (July 28, 2005) "By introducing real protections for roadless National Forests today, 146 members of Congress have made a stand to defend our last pristine forests from logging, mining and drilling. Today's action demonstrates a clear and bright alternative to the Bush Administration's meaningless roadless policy and offers the best hope of preserving our last wild forests. Millions of Americans have written the Forest Service asking for national protection and less logging in National Forests, and while the Administration turned a deaf ear to them, Congress has listened."

"National Forest lands deserve the national protections provided by the Roadless bill introduced today. With the Administration having undone roadless protections in recent months and some Governors and the Forest Service positioning to open millions of acres to resource extraction, bipartisan Congressional action could not come at a more critical time."

Background

The bill (available here as a PDF), called The Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2005 is a measure to protect 58.5 million acres of National Forest lands from most commercial logging and road-building was introduced today in the House with 146 original co-sponsors. Click here to see a list of cosponsors.

The bill codifies the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, one of the most sweeping land conservation measures in a generation, which was overturned by the Bush Administration in May. The legislation would protect the remaining nearly one-third of undeveloped forests from most commercial logging and road building. As required by the Roadless Rule, the new bill would allow new roads to be constructed in order to fight fires, ensure public safety and provide for thinning to protect forest health.

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