Senator
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

RE: Support the Roadless Area Conservation Act

Dear Senator ,

I urge you to co-sponsor and actively support S. 1200, The Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2003.

On June 9th, the United States Forest Service announced that it would allow logging in wild portions of America's two largest national forests, the Tongass and the Chugach. Under the plan, most of the last remaining undeveloped, roadless areas in national forests across the country could also be opened to logging and road building.

The move undermines the Roadless Area Conservation Rule of 2001, which was put into effect after an unprecedented number of Americans voiced their support for it. It is a conservative measure that protects the best of what is left in undeveloped lands on our forests. The Forest Service proposal threatens millions of acres of wild places held dear by Americans, including 300,000 acres of centuries-old trees in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska, habitat for eagles, wolves and brown bear.

The Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2003 would permanently reinstate the Roadless Rule and prevent the Forest Service from gutting the roadless area protection rule. It would permanently protect over 58 million acres of spectacular roadless land across the country. Today, these roadless areas are prized for their wildlife habitat, clean drinking water, and opportunities for recreation and solitude. Under the Forest Service proposal, these forests, which belong to all Americans, would become pawns to the short-term political whims and economic urges of individual states and the timber industry.

Our wilderness is a heritage and a treasure which represents a vital and irreplaceable link to our past and our future. Please help protect it for all Americans and for future generations by co-sponsoring and supporting S. 1200.