Tomorrow, Gov. Schwarzenegger will file a petition with the
federal government seeking 100 percent protection for California’s
4.4 million acres of wild forests. We applaud the governor for standing up to
the Bush administration and protecting California’s
wild forests for future generations. This action continues the governor’s
national leadership on environmental issues.
For over 10 years, hundreds of thousands of Californians have
worked with us to seek protection for our wild forests, including over 187,000 people
who submitted comments to the Forest Service supporting protection for our wild
forests.
Protecting our national forests should be the job of the
federal government, but they have instead chosen to rollback existing rules to
protect these areas. We hope today’s action will serve as a model for other
states to stand up to the Bush administration and ask for 100 percent protection
of their national forests.
Unfortunately, this action does not end the fight since the
administration must still approve the petition. As long as we have an
administration in Washington D.C.
that wants to drill for oil in Los Padres National Forests we will need Gov.
Schwarzenegger to continue to listen to the people of California
and fight to protect our wild forests.
Facts about roadless areas in California
- Roadless areas, so named for
their pristine and road-free condition, are a source of clean drinking
water for millions of Californians.
In the Pacific Southwest Forest Service Region, which includes California,
drinking water is worth $944.3 million annually.
- Non-motorized recreation
has become more and more popular as Americans participate in everything
from bicycling to hunting in roadless areas. In 2001, 6.9 million California
residents took part in hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching,
contributing $5.7 billion to the state economy.
- America’s
wildlife has seen much of its habitat lost to development in recent
decades. Some of the most unspoiled habitat for hundreds of threatened,
endangered, and declining species is found in roadless areas. California’s
national forests are home to 66 at-risk species that could be harmed by the
destruction of roadless areas.
Where do we go from here?
- This petition will be submitted to the Federal
Advisory Committee appointed by the Bush administration;
- Next, the committee will review the petition and
make recommendations to the secretary of agriculture;
- The secretary will decide whether to initiate a
federal rulemaking process;
- The administration may enact, modify, or reject
the petition entirely.
All states have until November 13, 2006 to submit a petition.
