A Holiday Wish: Protect America's Forests
Monday, December 20, 2010
PHOENIX, Ariz. - President Obama is being asked to give a holiday gift that will keep on giving: protection for America's national forests. Groups from 10 states - including several active in Arizona - have banded together in the interest of making sure next month's update of National Forest Management Act (NFMA) rules protects "creatures great and small."
Caitlin Balch-Burnett, regional outreach representative with Defenders of Wildlife, says the groups have one goal.
"To really ask for a very strong national forest rule that will safeguard wildlife and its habitat, as well as guarantee really clean and safe drinking water for a lot of the communities that rely on it."
The Department of Agriculture estimates that national forest lands support nearly 250,000 rural jobs and contribute $14.5 billion to the U.S. economy. The Obama administration is expected to issue a new land management proposal in January.
The Obama proposal would replace current NFMA rules originally developed in 1982 that apply to 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands in 44 states. Once the rule is drafted, the process will be open to public comment during 2011 - a process Balch-Burnett says is important.
"It's not just the administration listening to a bunch of experts. The public has a huge stake in this, as well."
The campaign asking for tough and balanced rules is coming from groups that represent a multitude of constituencies, Balch-Burnett adds.
"That's a great way of describing it. So many of our national forests and our grasslands, and public lands in general, have multiple uses, and it's important that they remain that way."
The coalition includes conservationists, outdoor sports enthusiasts, hikers, wildlife preservationists and people who fish and hunt.
More information about the campaign is available at https://secure3.convio.net/advoc/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=491.
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