Save Our Last Remaining Forests
Americans Agree - Don't Destroy Our National Forests!
The Forest Service has received more than 2.5 million comments in support of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a historic rule enacted to protect the last third of our national forests. It ensures that our last wild forests will continue to provide clean drinking water for millions of Americans, wildlife habitat, and endless recreational opportunities.
Unfortunately, these protections could be lost forever. On Dec. 23, at the behest of powerful timber companies, the Bush administration exempted our largest national forest, Alaska's Tongass Rainforest, from the Roadless Area Conservation Rule.
And now, Bush administration officials are planning to allow governors in the Lower 48 states to seek exemptions for national forests in their states, jeopardizing pristine forests across the country.
Ask your governor to call on the Bush administration to protect our last wild forests by keeping the Roadless Rule intact and reinstating the rule in the Tongass.
Dear Governor,
I urge you to call on the Bush administration to enforce the Roadless Area Conservation Rule as it was issued in January 2001. The Roadless Rule was enacted to protect 58.5 million acres of our last wild forests. It ensures that our national forests will continue to provide clean drinking water for millions of Americans, wildlife habitat, and endless recreational opportunities.
Despite the 2.5 million comments the Bush administration has received in support of the Roadless Rule, it recently exempted Alaska's Tongass Rainforest from the rule. Next, the administration is likely to weaken the rule in the Lower 48 states by letting governors decide whether they want roadless areas in their states protected.
Our national forests need your help and leadership. I urge you to send a letter to President Bush calling on him to leave the roadless rule intact in the Lower 48 states and to reinstate the rule in the Tongass.
Sincerely,
