I’m outraged about the changes to the Roadless Rule the Bush Administration is proposing.
The Roadless Rule currently protects 58 million acres of public forests, most of which are pristine ancient forests. The Bush Administration wishes to, in effect, gut this law, allowing states to open up public land to logging industries. It’s possible to avoid old growth logging by embracing sustainable forestry practices within the logging industry. Ravaging old growth forests is not among these practices. There are plenty of resources outside of the land set aside under the Roadless Rule that, if used efficiently, could last indefinitely. Once an old growth forest is gone, it’s gone forever. More than just a few old trees are lost: habitat for native species, recreational areas and a vital part of our heritage disappear along with these majestic trees.
Instead of using up the few precious resources we have left, why not explore alternative sources for fuel and construction materials? We all know it’s possible, it’s just a matter of taking the first step by putting our foot down and upholding the Roadless Rule as is.
Adrienne Green
Eugene