E.O. Wilson, Jane Goodall Join Opposition to Roadless Forest Reversal

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Tue, 26 Oct 2004 13:07:26 GMT

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E.O. Wilson, Jane Goodall Join Opposition to Roadless Forest

Reversal

 

 

 

BushGreenwatch

 

October 26, 2004 |

 

E.O. Wilson, Jane Goodall Join Opposition to Roadless Forest Reversal

 

More than 230 leading scientists and economists from across the nation

have asked the United States Forest Service to abandon its efforts to

weaken the Clinton-era Roadless Area Conservation Rule, saying that

proposed changes run counter to sound scientific and economic principles.

 

In a strongly-worded letter to Forest Service officials, the

scientists -- including world-renowned chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall

and Harvard biologist Edward O. Wilson -- warned that they " are

especially troubled by " the current Forest Service leadership's " track

record of ignoring the best available science in policy decisions

affecting public land. "

 

The letter points out, " More than 4 million miles of roads criss-cross

the continental United States... This extensive road system has made

it possible to drive within a mile of more than 80% of all lands

within the lower United States, with only 3% of the nation more than 3

miles from the nearest road. " [1]

 

The letter warns that further road building on public lands could lead

to the crossing of an " ecological threshold, " where sensitive wildlife

species permanently abandon their historic habitat. Streams and fish

habitat are equally at risk due to the increased erosion, altered

hydrological patterns and siltification that accompanies road building

and use, the scientists said.

 

" I think [the letter] really points to significant frustration that

members of the scientific community feel with this administration and

its growing track record of ignoring the best available science in

policy decisions, " Dominick Della Salla, a forest ecologist and

director of the World Wildlife Fund's Klamath-Siskiyou Program in

southern Oregon, told the Associated Press. [2]

 

In their separate letter on the economic pitfalls of building more

roads in National Forests, the economists -- including Nobel laureate

Kenneth Arrow -- say that the timber industry, which already receives

tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies to build roads for

logging projects, would further burden the federal budget deficit.

 

The economists wrote, " Designating roadless areas in our national

forests is an economically sound policy that saves taxpayers millions

of dollars in road building and timber sale subsidies. ...we urge the

administration to reverse its decision to replace the Roadless Area

Conservation Rule. " [3]

 

According to government data, the Forest Service already has a $10

billion maintenance backlog for the 430,000 miles of existing roads in

National Forests.

 

In addition to objections from scientists and economists, the decision

to suspend the Roadless Rule has angered hunters and anglers. A recent

series of reports by the conservation group Trout Unlimited found that

the remaining roadless areas of National Forests contain some of the

best hunting and fishing in the nation. The reports said that some of

the biggest bull elk, healthiest trout populations and best habitat in

the lower 48 states are within the remaining roadless areas of

National Forests. [4]

 

###

 

SOURCES:

[1] Scientist letter to Forest Service on Roadless Rule.

[2] " Scientists, economists oppose Bush plan on forests, " Associated

Press, Oct. 20, 2004.

[3] Economist letter to Forest Service, Oct. 22, 2004.

[4] Trout Unlimited Roadless reports.

 

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