American Forests Responds to Roadless Rule Implementation

American Forests
Friday, 4 May 2001

American Forests applauds the Bush Administration for upholding the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. We are cautiously optimistic that the Administration is looking forward and will address remaining concerns through collaboration with state and local governments, as well as community groups. We are anxious to see what the Administration proposes in the amendments mentioned by Secretary Veneman.

American Forests has supported proposals for increased protection of roadless areas in our national forests since former U.S. Forest Service Chief Mike Dombeck first announced a moratorium on roadbuilding in roadless areas in January 1998, which led to the permanent rule. We believe roadless areas need further protection because they provide significant ecological services for all species, human and nonhuman. These services include clean air and water, critical fish, wildlife, and plant habitat, and climate regulation.

The Roadless Area Conservation Rule is part of a larger transition for Western national forests and communities from a timber-based to a restoration-based economy. While we learn how to develop and practice restoration-based activities, we must "reinvest" in areas that have already been opened to road construction and forest management to restore their health. This focus should include a strong emphasis on collaboration and learning so we can reduce the conflict that has surrounded national forest issues for the past two decades.

American Forests has developed an "ecosystem and restoration maintenance" policy agenda that embodies goals to help achieve the transition to a restoration-based economy. These goals emphasize the need for: greater consideration of the ecological services provided by trees and forests; long-term investment in restoring and maintaining healthy ecosystems and communities; building the capacity of urban and rural communities to do restoration work and to develop local economies based on ecosystem stewardship; open and inclusive processes for planning and implementing activities; and innovative monitoring for collaborative learning and building trust.

Because of our interest in supporting community-based forestry, we have expressed concern about how the Roadless Area Conservation Rule would affect communities and what opportunities would exist for them to address concerns about wildfire threats as well as ecosystem and watershed protection. Many communities are searching for new ways to maintain healthy ecosystems while sustaining local community well being. They believe in roadless area protection, and they are committed to ensuring the use of open and inclusive processes that engage national interest groups and address the national interest in protecting roadless areas.

Concerns over engaging community and national interest groups can be addressed within the context of the Rule if the USDA works in a collaborative way with non-federal entities. This Thursday, May 10, 2001, at 9 am, a press conference will be held at the U.S. Capitol with Senators Bingaman and Craig and American Forests officials to discuss community-based forestry.

For more information, or to contact American Forests, see their website at: www.americanforests.org