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President Obama, Protect America's Roadless National Forests
Action: Letter Campaign Issue: Roadless Rule Deadline: Sept. 1, 2009  They're an American treasure: Nearly 60 million acres of pristine national forests were protected from roadbuilding, logging and other harmful activities by the landmark 2001 Roadless Rule. Earthjustice has been at the forefront of defending these wild forests—the last remaining strongholds for grizzly bears, wolves, elk, salmon, and trout. Now we need you to urge President Obama to fulfill his promise to uphold and defend the Roadless Rule.
As a senator, President Obama was co-sponsor of the National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act. As a presidential candidate he promised to uphold and defend the 2001 Roadless Rule.
The Obama administration took a first step in May, announcing that for the next year, all plans for roadbuilding and timber sales in roadless areas (except in Idaho) must be reviewed personally by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who oversees the Forest Service. However, this does not mean roadless logging and roadbuilding will automatically be halted. Timber sales are still scheduled this summer in Alaska's Tongass National Forest. It's time for President Obama to finish the job and fulfill his promise to uphold and defend the 2001 Roadless Rule.
The forests protected by this rule provide vital habitat for 1,500 wildlife species, safeguard drinking water supplies for 60 million Americans, and ensure quality recreation for millions of hikers, fishermen, and hunters.
The Bush administration and the timber industry did all it could to undermine the rule. As a result, magnificent forests in many states, including the Tongass, are currently not protected.
Americans—hunters and anglers, religious leaders, scientists, backpackers, and many more—support roadless protection by a margin of 10 to 1. Roadless areas are valuable for recreation, wildlife habitat, climate adaptation, and clean water supplies for hundreds of communities.
Take a stand today for wild forests. Please urge President Obama to keep his pledge to uphold and defend the 2001 Roadless Rule.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Uphold and Defend the 2001 Roadless Rule
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
Thank you for your support of the 2001 National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Rule. As a senator you cosponsored the National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act. As a presidential candidate you pledged to uphold and defend the 2001 Roadless Rule and supported protecting all 58.5 million acres of wild forests covered by that rule. I also appreciate your administration's one-year interim directive requiring Secretary Vilsack's personal review of any road construction projects or timber sales in roadless forests that were protected under the rule.
However, it is time to finish the job. Please fulfill your pledge to uphold and defend the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule.
In order to uphold and defend the 2001 rule, its protections need to be returned to all national forests. In doing so, I urge you to eliminate the Bush administration's 2003 "temporary" exemption of the Tongass National Forest and restore the rule's protections to all of Idaho's roadless forests. In particular, the Bush administration's approval of the expansion of the Smoky Canyon mine into roadless areas of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest must be revoked.
The 2001 Roadless Rule is the most widely supported forest conservation measure in history. Hundreds of hearings were held, millions of comments gathered, and Americans support roadless protection by a margin of 10 to 1. Supporters include hunters and anglers, religious leaders, scientists, backpackers, and many elected officials such as yourself. Count me among them. Mr. President, please finish the job of restoring the protections of the 2001 Roadless Rule to all 58.5 million acres of wild forests.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
July 07, 2009
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