The Bureau of Land Management has proposed to weaken President Clinton’s Northwest Forest Plan, which was put in place 20 years ago to protect the owl's habitat and restore the old-growth forest ecosystem. But the plan is working; it has begun to bring the forests back and slow the owl's decline, and its protections should be maintained.
Meanwhile, Congress is considering logging legislation that undermines wildlife protection and public involvement. Your voice is urgently needed to support saving the threatened Northern Spotted Owl and Marbled Murrelet, and to ensure that the many benefits produced by the Northwest Forest Plan, such as carbon storage and clean water supplies, are not lost.
Take action and urge your members of Congress and President Obama to support stronger forest protection for the endangered Northern Spotted Owl and Marbled Murrelet.
Dear [Decision Maker],
I am writing to urge your support for protecting the threatened Marbled Murrelet and the Northern Spotted Owl, which have rapidly declining populations.
Proposed changes to the Northwest Forest Plan by the BLM have me greatly concerned. The plan's protections for wildlife and old-growth forests should be maintained and expanded as forest plans are updated.
Studies show that President Clinton's Northwest Forest Plan is working to protect and restore old growth forests and slow the decline of Northern Spotted Owls. The plan is also working as hoped to restore watersheds, improve water quality, and store carbon.
I'm opposed to expedited logging proposals now before Congress that weaken protections for endangered wildlife, clean water, and carbon storage, and that threaten to undermine the Northwest Forest Plan.
Thank you for considering these requests and doing all that you can to protect the Northern Spotted Owl and the ancient forest ecosystem that it depends on. The Northwest Forest Plan was an important step forward, and I hope that you will continue and build upon this tremendous conservation legacy.
[Your comment here]
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
