 |
Georgia’s pristine forests could be marred by logging and mining. Roadless forests offer important protection to Georgia’s waterways against contamination.
|
The deadline is looming to protect more than 63 thousand acres of Georgia’s national forest at risk of development after the Bush administration repealed their protections. Environment Georgia is working to convince Gov. Perdue to protect Georgia’s forests.
Unless Gov. Perdue takes action by November 2006, areas like the Kelly Ridge Roadless Area could be open to logging, road-building or other harmful activities.
Located near Hiawassee, the Kelly Ridge Roadless Area is composed of coves nestled deep in a forest of old-growth hardwoods, mosses, ferns and dark-brown soil. It is home to black bears, salamanders, flying squirrels, ruffed grouse and other wildlife.
While logging, mining and other activities have diminished the beauty and wildness of some of Georgia’s natural places, there are still thousands of acres of national forest vulnerable to bulldozers, backhoes and chainsaws.
These roadless areas provide revenue from recreation, a source for clean drinking water, and habitat for endangered species. For example, the Chattahoochee River starts as a spring in the Chattahoochee National Forest. The drinking water these areas provide is among the purest because the forests are free from development, meaning less pollution runs off into the water. Drinking water from national forests is worth $3.7 billion annually.
To protect these areas, President Clinton enacted the federal Roadless Area Conservation Rule, designed to protect 60 million acres of America’s unspoiled forests for future generations. It was intended to keep forests throughout the nation off-limits to most logging and road-building.
Public forests threatened
Yet, in May 2005, the Bush administration repealed the rule after heavy lobbying by the timber industry. The administration’s new policy requires governors to petition the federal government for continued forest protection. Environment Georgia is calling on Gov. Perdue to join other Southern Governors in working to protect Georgia’s national forests.
Under the federal rules, the governor can appeal the Forest Service plans to open Georgia’s forests up to development, and take action to protect these unspoiled places. The deadline for action is November 2006.
“As a matter of principle, we think our national forests, like the Chattahoochee National Forest, belong to the public and should remain protected by the federal government,” said Environment Georgia Director Jill Johnson. “But by allowing governors the opportunity to petition for protection, the Bush administration gave the people of Georgia a chance to press Gov. Perdue to defend our forests. And that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
Environment Georgia is encouraging its members to contact Gov. Perdue to tell him how important forests are to all of Georgia, along with family pictures of Georgians enjoying these special areas. We are working to generate thousands of public comments to support national forest protection.
“None of us want to lose the most beautiful parts of our state,” said Johnson. “But if we don’t act, places like the Chattahoochee National Forest will be marred by logging and other destructive activities. We need to speak up and tell Gov. Perdue how much these forests mean to us.” |
