URGENT ACTION ALERT!
ONLY 10% OF OUR ANCIENT FORESTS REMAIN!
On June 11 the New York Times reported that NASA scientists
believe that the old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest are
in much worse condition than those of Brazil due to logging. The
result is the destruction of critical habitat for hundreds of
species, including endangered salmon, steelhead trout, and the
spotted owl.
If historic logging rates continue, these forests will be gone in
as little as ten years. But we can stop this destruction and save
our remaining natural heritage!
The Ancient Forest Act,
H.R. 4899
Six committee Chairmen led by Rep. George Miller, (D-CA) recently
introduced legislation to permanently protect the Northwest's
ancient forest ecosystem by creating a system of ancient forest
reserves based on the recommendations of a committee of
scientists.
The bill, H.R. 4899 is intended to protect all species of
wildlife, fisheries, and watersheds. It will also provide
assistance to workers and communities affected by the transition
from an old-growth timber economy to a more efficient, scaled-down
second growth economy.
On Wednesday June 17th, Speaker of the House Thomas Foley (D-WA)
blocked one version of this legislation (H.R. 4899) in the House
Interior Committee, in favor of a weaker bill that was passed out
of the House Agriculture Committee on June 18th.
The Agriculture Committee's version of this bill will not
adequately protect fisheries, watersheds and endangered species,
though it does address the needs of the Sierran forests of
California.
To ensure that future generations can rely on these forests'
essential ecosystem values of fish, wildlife and clean water, the
Interior Committee must be allowed to report a strong bill to the
House floor.
Congress also needs to include protection of the Eastside forests
of the Cascades, a provision which is opposed by Speaker Foley, in
whose District some of these forests are located.
The U.S. Senate On June 25th, Senators Leahy (D-VT) and Adams
(D-WA) introduced the Rural Development and Ancient Forest
Ecosystem Conservation Act, S. 2895. The bill provides a strong
level of protection (12C) for ancient forests and includes the
Eastside forests, but lacks protection for Sierran forests.
Senator Cranston (D-CA) has prepared and amendment to add the
Sierras which needs to be approved in the Senate Agriculture
Committee. This bill needs additional co-sponsors to ensure that
Congress enacts a strong bill this year.
YOU CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!
Writing letters and personally lobbying your Representatives and
Senators is the best way you can influence this legislation.
Please contact your representative and demand the strongest level
of protection for the Ancient Forest Act, H.R.4899. Also ask for
the inclusion in the bill of the Eastside and Sierra forests.
Ask your Representative to ask Speaker Thomas Foley to stop
interfering with the Committee process. His lack of leadership
could end any hope of saving the remaining Eastside forests, and
this intervention suggests that he has no interest in passing
strong legislation to protect our nation's heritage.
Also write your Senators and ask that they become a co-sponsor of
S. 2895, and to support Senator Cranston's Sierra Amendment.
Letters should be addressed to:
YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515
or
YOUR SENATOR
U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510
Please contact the Western Ancient Forest Campaign for more
information. You can also call our Legislative Hotline for the
latest information at: (202) 939-3328.
Thank you for your support.
