One hundred businesses, organizations and citizens urged President Bush in a letter today to protect Virginia's national forests by upholding the Roadless Area Conservation Rule as it was originally written. The historic rule, which protects roadless areas in national forests from logging and mining, could be unraveled by the Bush administration, according to environmentalists.
The signers of the letter include Mt. Rogers Outfitters in Damascus, East Coasters Cycling & Fitness in Blacksburg, Pifer Office Supply and Mountain Trails in Winchester, Moving Comfort in Chantilly, Central Coffee in Sperryville, the American Canoe Association, prominent National Geographic photographer Michael Nichols, and Charlottesville Mayor Maurice Cox.
Virginia has more than 387,000 “roadless” acres, the most of any state east of the Mississippi. These primarily pristine areas in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in western Virginia provide premier recreation opportunities and wildlife habitat, and are the source of drinking water in many Virginia communities.
An excerpt of the letter reads: “More than 45,000 comments in favor of the rule were submitted by citizens of the Commonwealth, an unprecedented outpouring of public support. As businesses, organizations, and citizens of Virginia, who benefit greatly from our National Forests, we wish to publicly voice our support of upholding the Roadless Area Conservation Rule in its entirety.”
The letter, organized by Wild Virginia and the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), is in response to recent announcements from U.S. Forest Service officials of their intentions to weaken the landmark public lands protection rule. The Roadless Area Conservation Rule, adopted in 2001, is designed to safeguard the last remaining unprotected wild areas on U.S. National Forests from roadbuilding, mining, and logging. If reversed, much of Virginia's most rugged and beautiful heritage forests would be vulnerable to development that could degrade water quality, scenic values and quality recreation.
“The letter to President Bush, endorsed by owners of outdoor recreation stores, art galleries, restaurants, office suppliers, and many others, sends a clear message that Virginia's business sector feels strongly that the economic vitality in the state is linked to the preservation of our heritage forests,” says Jen Creasy of Wild Virginia.
“The fact that the economic value of recreational opportunities on southern Appalachian national forests has been estimated at $379 million annually, more than ten times the $32 million in gross annual benefits from the timber program -(1), clearly shows why business owners are rallying behind this effort,” Creasy said. “They realize and appreciate that as tourism and recreation grow throughout the Commonwealth so do local economies, making it imperative that these areas remain protected and accessible.”
“The Bush administration has continually hacked away at the environmental protections on America's public lands, including our roadless areas, to open them to more development,” said SELC media relations manager Cat McCue. “It's a short-sighted view of natural resource management that will harm future generations.”
The roadless rule has received bipartisan support from almost 200 members of Congress – including Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) and Reps. Rich Boucher (D-Abingdon) and Jim Moran (D-Alexandria) – who have signed onto legislation to turn the rule into law. Virginia Governor Mark Warner announced his opposition to changes in the rule earlier this year, followed by governors from New Mexico, Maine, Washington, and Pennsylvania.
Dozens of America's most respected scientists have advocated for strong protections for the country's roadless areas. Also, major corporations such as Staples, outdoor retailers such as REI, and hundreds of gun groups around the around the country also support the rule. To date, the federal government has received nearly 2.5 million comments in support of the rule; 98 percent of Virginians who sent comments have been in support of full protection for roadless areas.
“It's clear that momentum is building in Virginia to protect these wild places. Our new state slogan could be 'Virginia is for roadless lovers.'” Creasy said.
