PROTECT ROADLESS FORESTS—Areas like this in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains are in jeopardy because the Bush Administration is rolling back protections for 58.5 million acres of roadless national forests.

From the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest to the misty groves of the Southern Appalachians, America’s national forests are home to some of the most striking beauty on earth.

They provide clean drinking water for sixty million Americans and critical habitat for a quarter of America’s endangered species, including grizzly bear, wolf, and salmon.

In addition, they provide endless opportunities for recreation and solitude. Considering just how much land has been developed across the country, it’s even more important that these wild places remain unchanged by humans.

The ongoing fight to protect roadless areas within America’s national forests is heading into the home stretch.

The PIRGs are urging state governors to petition the Forest Service to protect all roadless areas within their states. Almost 60 million acres of wild and intact forests hangs in the balance.

Protections Put To States
In May 2005, the Bush administration repealed the Clinton-era Roadless Area Conservation Rule.

The rule was initially enacted after 1.2 million of Americans petitioned in favor of keeping roadless areas within our national forests off limits to logging and development. The total number of public comments in favor of protecting roadless areas exceeded any other public comment period until that time.

Since 2001, more than 4 million Americans have petitioned the Forest Service to protect roadless areas from mining and other development.

Unfortunately, the Bush administration ignored overwhelming public support for forests and sided with logging and mining companies by repealing the Roadless Rule
last year.

There is still hope for the roadless areas. Though the Bush administration repealed the rule, state governors can petition to protect the lands at the state level.

The state PIRGs and other conservation groups are urging state governors to petition the Forest Service to protect one hundred percent of roadless areas in their states.

“We can still save the Roadless Rule,” says U.S. PIRG Preservation Director Athan Manuel. “Support from governors gives us a chance to save our wild forests from logging and mining.”

The drive to get governors to petition the Forest Service comes on the heels of a successful citizens’ petition drive.

In February 2006, more than 250,000 citizens petitioned the Forest Service to reinstate the 2001 Roadless Rule.

So far, Gov. Richardson (NM) and Gov. Warner (VA) have petitioned the Forest Service to protection 100 percent of the roadless areas in their state.

“America’s last roadless national forests belong to each and every American,” said Manuel. “We need to make a last stand for our national forests, and the clean drinking water, wildlife habitat and endless recreational opportunities they provide.