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Roadless Conservation Rule: Scientists’ Petition the USDA Forest Service Proposed Rule Change

Date
October 18, 2004
Contact
WildEarth Guardians
In This Release
Public Lands  
#Rewilding
As scientists with extensive expertise in conservation biology, forest ecology, stream ecology, and wildlife management, we would like to comment on Forest Service’s proposed rule making change to replace the federal Roadless Conservation Rule adopted on January 12, 2001 with a petition process initiated by state governments. We are especially troubled by this administration’s track record of ignoring the best available science in policy decisions affecting public lands and its deference to the states on forest management decisions of national importance. There is growing consensus among the scientific community that a strong roadless conservation rule is one of the cornerstones to sustainable public lands management, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem health of the national forests. Therefore, we request that you reinstate the 2001 Roadless Conservation Rule that received very thoughtful input by scientists and the public. In addition, we would like to respond to concerns the proposed rule making change creates regarding the substantial impacts of roads on fish and wildlife populations, and the importance of roadless areas in maintaining healthy and productive terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems on our nation’s public lands.

Read the scientist’s petition to the USFS Content Analysis Team (PDF)