August 6, 2003
CONTACT: Arthur Stamoulis
(412) 392-0550, ext. 222

Heritage Forests Campaign's
National Whistle Stop Tour Pulls into Pittsburgh
Local Groups Stump for America's Last Wild Forests

PITTSBURGH - Heritage Forest Campaign's national "Whistle Stop Tour" made a stop at Market Square today to draw attention to a U.S. Forest Service plan to dismantle the widely popular Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Featuring a large, 6x8-foot inflatable tree stump, the twenty-four city tour began on the West Coast last month and will reach its final destination in Washington, D.C. later this week. The stop in Pittsburgh was hosted in Pittsburgh by Clean Air Council, Allegheny Defense Council, Sierra Club and PennEnvironment.

"Public lands belong to the American people. This tour is helping to build momentum and public support around the notion that America's national forests should be conserved for the benefit of current and future generations," said Arthur Stamoulis of Clean Air Council.

The Roadless Rule protects 58.5. million acres of America's last wild forests-including 25,000 acres in Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest-from most commercial logging and road-building. In June 2003, the U.S. Forest Service proposed exempting the Tongass and Chugach National Forests in Alaska from the rule. These forests make up the world's largest coastal temperate rainforest. The proposed changes would also let individual states, like Pennsylvania, opt out from the rule.

"By gutting the Roadless Rule, the Bush administration is doing nothing less than handing over America's last remaining pristine areas so that corporate interests can make a quick-and-dirty profit," said Emily Templin of PennEnvironment. "In doing so, the Bush administration is not only turning its back on the environment-it is turning its back on the American people."

The Roadless Rule was adopted in January 2001 following years of scientific study, hundreds of public hearings across the country, and more than 1.6 million comments. It is the most commented-on rule in American history. To date, the Forest Service has received 2.2 million comments on the rule-95% in favor of roadless protection.

"The only thing that is going to stop America's last remaining pristine areas from being destroyed is the voice of everyday citizens. If ordinary citizens demand that our national forests be protected, there is still a good chance to save them," said Karen Wood-Campbell of Allegheny Defense Project.

Roadless areas in the Allegheny National Forest, and nationwide, provide critical habitat for fish and wildlife, including many endangered species. These areas also provide excellent recreational opportunities, including hiking, camping, hunting and fish. Most importantly, roadless areas play an important role in protecting many of the nation's rivers and streams, the sources of drinking water for millions of Americans.

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The Heritage Forests Campaign is an alliance of conservationists, wildlife advocates, clergy, educators, scientists and other Americans who are working together to uphold protection of national forests. To learn more about the Heritage Forests Campaign, visit http://www.ourforests.org.