The visionary solution: end subsidies for commercial logging
Did you know that the US Forest Service actually requested $278 million from Congress for 2006 to plan commercial timber sales in ancient forests, roadless areas and other sensitive wildlife areas? This is just a part of an annual billion dollar subsidy that promotes commercial logging and logging road construction in America’s National Forests. At the same time, citizens are being asked to pay fees for hiking their own public lands and some recreation areas are being sold off or closed. The federal logging program makes no environmental or economic sense.
Instead, the Congress should stop this wasteful program and invest in the protection of communities from fires and the restoration of damaged forests and watersheds. The National Forest Protection and Restoration Act, to be introduced soon by Rep. Jim Leach (R-IA) and Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), proposes to end the federal commercial logging program and to redirect federal funding into a pro-active forest restoration program. The NFPRA will provide greater environmental and economic benefits by protecting communities from the threat of forest fires, promoting restoration jobs, and ensuring that National Forests will continue to provide clean water, quality recreation opportunities and abundant fish and wildlife.
The Bush Administration and the Forest Service under Chief Dale Bosworth is headed in a direction that disregards sound environmental stewardship. Since taking office, President Bush and Chief Bosworth have repealed protections for wild roadless areas, overturned forest management rules that protect wildlife and have worked to increase logging.
There is a better way. We can use federal resources and energy to “protect the best and restore the rest” of our National Forests. Our tax dollars and federal agencies should work to provide sound management that American citizens want, not the continued logging of ancient forests, ruined streams and closed campgrounds.
TAKE ACTION:
Help make a difference by joining the thousands of conservationists calling for the protection and restoration of America’s National Forests.
Call your Representative today or click here to send a fax directly to your Representative.
Urge Your Representative to support the National Forest Protection and Restoration Act H.R.3420, sponsored by Representatives Jim Leach and Louise Slaughter.