From EarthJustice-

Tell the White House: Protect Roadless Areas of National Forests

In the last week of May, the Obama administration took an important first step toward maintaining the president’s pledge to uphold the landmark 2001 Roadless Rule and restoring the protections it provided to nearly 60 million acres of pristine national forest lands. Earthjustice has been on the forefront of defending these wild forests against repeated assaults by the timber industry and the previous administration.

On May 28, the administration announced that, during the next year, all plans for roadbuilding, logging, or other development in roadless forests must be reviewed personally by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who oversees the Forest Service. The most immediate and significant effect is to potentially put a hold on roadless timber sales that have been scheduled in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, the largest remaining old-growth temperate forest in the world.

Please thank Secretary Vilsack for this important first step toward upholding the President’s pledge. But while you’re doing it, also remind him that there’s still more to do to uphold the Roadless Rule and protect our wild forests.

National Forest roadless areas are the last remaining strongholds for grizzly bears, wolves, elk, salmon, and trout. The forests protected by this rule provide vital habitat for 1,500 wildlife species, safeguard drinking water supplies for 60 million Americans, and ensure quality recreation for millions of hikers, fishermen, and hunters.

The Bush administration and the timber industry did all it could to undermine the rule. As a result, magnificent forests in many states, including the Tongass, are currently not protected. Although this week’s temporary order includes the Tongass, it excludes the entire state of Idaho and does nothing to stop the expansion of the Smoky Canyon Mine into roadless areas of Idaho’s Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

Americans—hunters and anglers, religious leaders, scientists, backpackers, and many more—support roadless protection by a margin of 10 to 1. They know that roadless areas are valuable for recreation, wildlife habitat, climate adaptation, and clean water supplies for hundreds of communities.

Take a stand today for wild forests—thank Secretary Vilsack and urge him to finish the job.