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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... 1999
Releases
The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate. If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly. |
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| MARCH
15, 1999 4:37 PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Sierra Club Allen Mattison, 202-675-7903 Sean Cosgrove, 202-675-2382 |
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| Sierra Club Supports Scientists' Recommendation to Manage National Forests "Sustainably" | ||||
| WASHINGTON
- March 15 - A panel of government-appointed scientists today recommended the
U.S. Forest Service make a major -- and more environmentally sustainable --
shift in its management of America's National Forests. The Sierra Club's forest
policy expert, Sean Cosgrove, applauded the recommendations, saying they could
mean a fundamental, positive, and long-overdue change in the management of
America's National Forests.
"The scientists want the Forest Service to manage the National Forests `sustainably,' in order to protect water quality, wildlife habitat, and recreation opportunities for the public. This is a far cry from the Forest Service's past focus on maintaining logging and grazing. To be truly sustainable means putting all remaining old growth forests, roadless areas, and remaining native prairies, off limits to commercial logging, mining and oil and gas drilling," Cosgrove explained. Under current Forest Service management practices, more than half (52 percent) of America's National Forests have been logged, mined, or opened for oil and gas drilling and other development. But that exploitative management approach could change -- if today's advice is heeded by the Forest Service. The recommendation to make "the policy of sustainability" the "guiding star for stewardship of the national forests and grasslands" was made today by an interdisciplinary Committee of Scientists (COS) appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman (who oversees the US Forest Service). According to Cosgrove, "Basically, what the scientists are saying is if you don't protect what's left and restore what's been lost or damaged, there will be nothing left of America's National Forests or the wildlife that live there for our children and grandchildren to enjoy. It's a common-sense approach that's been a long time coming. We strongly recommend the Forest Service change its management focus to include these recommendations." The Forest Service is not required to follow the scientists' recommendations. # # # |
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