ISSUE
In honor of National Trails Day on Saturday, June 4,
conservationists, hunting and fishing groups, and small
businesses from around the state will launch a cooperative
effort to find adoptive parents for Roadless areas in
Idaho’s national forests.
The Adopt-a-Roadless-Area Program is aimed at encouraging Idahoans to:
- Experience their National Forests
- Learn about the unique values of specific roadless
areas
- Increase public awareness about the threats to these special places
A decision last month by the Bush Administration gives Governors the opportunity to open 58.5 million acres of roadless forests nationwide to road-building, logging, mining and other development.
Idaho has 9.3 million acres of roadless forests, more than any other state in the lower 48. These areas provide clean water, wildlife habitat and solitude enjoyed by thousands of people across Idaho. The Bush Plan would immediately open 85% of Idaho’s Roadless areas to potential development. The other 15% are recommended Wilderness Areas in existing Forest Plans, yet could still be exploited at the recommendation of the Governor.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Participants in the Adopt-a-Roadless-Area Program pledge to
visit the roadless area at least once this year, learn about
the area and its history, raise awareness about the area,
and encourage Governor Kempthorne to protect the area from
harmful development.
To participate, or to learn more, contact Jonathan Oppenheimer, Conservation Associate at the Idaho Conservation League at joppenheimer@wildidaho.org or (208) 345-6942 ext. 26.