PIRG's Save Our Wild Forests Index Take action to protect wild forests For More Information: Aaron Viles at aviles@pirg.org Wild Forests Campaign Organizer The State PIRGs 218 D St. SE Washington, DC 20003 (202) 546-9707 (ph) (202) 546-2461 (fx)

[ Environment | Wild Forests ] Our Heritage Forests Are At Risk A Publicly Owned Treasure From the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest to the misty groves of the Southern Appalachians, America's National Forests contain some of the most striking natural beauty on Earth. Our National Forests include some of the last untouched wild forests in America and provide a variety of important public values: Our Heritage Forests, which make up nearly one-third of America's National Forests, are threatened by logging, mining, road-building and other forms of development. Of the 191 million acres of National Forests in 44 states, only 18% ÷ less than 35 million acres÷is protected from development. Recreation ÷ National Forests provide places to hike, fish and camp for millions of Americans. In 1996 alone, Americans made 341 million recreational visits to National Forests. Ancient Forest Preservation ÷ Only 4% of America's ancient forests remain standing. Two-thirds of these ancient forests are located within the boundaries of our National Forests. Clean Water ÷ Streams running through National Forests provide clean drinking water to nearly 1,000 communities nationwide. Wildlife Habitat ÷ National Forests provide homes to one-quarter of America's endangered species, including the grizzly bear, the wolf and the salmon.  PIRG's Campaign To Save Our Wild Forests is working to defend what leading conservationists call America's "Heritage Forests" ÷ unprotected wilderness areas of 1,000 acres and greater within our National Forests ÷ from logging, mining, road-building and other damaging activities.     Logging, Mining & Road-Building Jeopardize Our Heritage Forests Logging, mining and road-building destroy forest ecosystems and threaten our communities.   Clearcutting has wiped out important habitat for the wolf, the grizzly bear and other species in states such as Colorado, Ohio and Georgia. Road-building and logging cause severe erosion, choking rivers and streams and triggering deadly landslides.  Mining and oil drilling cause chemical and petroleum spills and leave a legacy of toxic runoff.  U.S. Forest Policies Pave The Way For More Logging Instead of preserving our Heritage Forests, current government policies actually encourage the destruction of our last unprotected wilderness.  The Forest Service has built nearly 440,000 miles of roads ÷ enough to circle the planet 17 times ÷ to help logging trucks gain access to even more remote areas of our National Forests. Despite the benefit to logging companies, American taxpayers pick up the tab for these roads ÷ at a cost of at least $200 million a year.  To secure access to these publicly-owned lands, timber, mining and oil interests have spent millions on lobbyists and contributions to Congressional candidates.  Campaign contributions by the timber industry alone total more than $10 million over the last seven years.   An Opportunity to Protect Our Heritage Forests   The Clinton-Gore administration has taken its first step toward protecting our Heritage Forests by instituting an 18-month moratorium, or "time out," on new road construction in our National Forests. During this 18-month period, which began March 1, 1999, the Administration will develop a long-term "forest policy" for our Heritage Forests.  This policy provides an historic opportunity to permanently protect our remaining forest wilderness from logging, road construction, mining, and other destructive activities.     Protection For Wilderness . . . Or More Loopholes For Logging? Due to pressure from special interests, the current "time-out" on roadbuilding in our National Forests includes loopholes that allow logging, mining, and roadbuilding in almost 25 million acres of our National Forests.  The following are examples of some of these loopholes:   In Vermont, a loophole threatens to allow a timber access road through the middle of Lamb Brook wildland, a rare block of undisturbed land, home to bear and other deepwoods wildlife species. In California, an exemption will allow a timber sale in Klamath National Forest's Orleans Mountain Roadless Area, including the logging of old growth trees. In Michigan, a loophole will allow logging in Ottawa National Forest's oldest unprotected stand of old growth, home to threatened and endangered species including the northern goshawk and Canada lynx. The timber, mining, and oil companies want even more access to our Heritage Forests.  They will be fighting to ensure that any final forest policy will include more loopholes like the ones above.     Save America's Heritage Forests America's last wild forests should be a refuge for hikers and anglers, grizzly bears and wolves, clear streams and ancient trees÷not chainsaws and bulldozers.  Vice President Gore has the unique opportunity to preserve all 60 million acres of unprotected wilderness in our National Forests.  The Vice President should direct the Forest Service to implement a policy that:   Permanently protects America's Heritage Forests, consisting of all remaining roadless areas 1,000 acres and larger in our National Forests, and   Prohibits logging, road construction, mining and other damaging activities within our Heritage Forests.         Write to the U.S. Forest Service and urge them to permanently protect America's Heritage Forests.