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Let your friends know about Heritage Forests Campaign
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Heritage Forests Campaign News Release
March 11, 2003
Contents:
ROADLESS PROTECTION
LOGGING UNDER THE GUISE OF FIRE
TREES AS FEES
FOREST PLANNING
ROADLESS PROTECTION
Public Calls for Roadless Protection, Forest Service Listens
The Forest Service announced its decision Friday afternoon not to authorize the BLM to issue oil and gas leases in 370,000 acres of roadless and undeveloped areas in Bridger-Teton National Forest. Ninety-eight percent of public comments received on the proposal opposed oil and gas leasing. The Forest Service said that development of these areas “could compromise their nationally-significant character and highly-valued recreation opportunities."
LOGGING UNDER THE GUISE OF FIRE
Timber Industry Funds Bush Logging Message
Backed by the Bush administration, timber companies are dumping large amounts of money into a public-relations campaign to push the President’s logging proposal under the guise of fire prevention.
Public Left Out Of Local Hearings
A large group of local citizens were shut out of a field hearing held by House Republicans in Flagstaff, Arizona on Friday, March 7, 2003. Instead of an open forum to discuss the best way to protect communities from fire damage, the hearing was nothing more than a canned event to tout the Bush administration’s logging bill. Similar events will take place in New Mexico and Colorado in the next month.
TREES AS FEES
Forest Service Doles Out Forests to Big Timber
Mark Rey, USDA, Undersecretary, Natural Resources and the Environment announced Friday that Arizona’s Apache-Sitgreaves and Prescott National Forests will be the site of 10-year federal contracts allowing timber companies to log large, fire-resistant trees in exchange for clearing of brush. “Trees as Fees” projects (aka stewardship projects) are a major component of the Bush administration’s logging initiative and language expanding this program was included at the last-minute to Congress’ massive spending package.
FOREST PLANNING
Bush Administration Emphasizes Logging in Southern Appalachian Forests
The Bush administration released its draft management plan for Virginia’s Jefferson National Forest that recommends only 27,000 acres of the nearly 160,000 acres for wilderness designation and leaves roadless areas and watersheds unprotected. The plans are currently open for public comment. Recently, the administration recommended no new wilderness in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, putting 155 roadless areas at risk. For more information:
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Contact: Tony Iallonardo, NET
(202) 887-8855
The Heritage Forests Campaign is an alliance of conservationists, wildlife advocates, clergy, educators, scientists, and other Americans working together to uphold protection of our National Forests. Heritage Forests Campaign's partners include Alaska Rainforest Coalition, American Hiking Society, Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, National Environmental Trust, National Audubon Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, US PIRG, and The Wilderness Society.
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