Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: California's roadless areas need full protection

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,

I am very disturbed that, despite your promise to be a champion for California's natural environment, your administration has not yet clearly and on the official record objected to federal plans to roll back the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. The rule protects some of the last best forests in California, vital wildlife habitat, irreplaceable recreational opportunities and pristine sources of clean drinking water for millions of Californians.

The Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a widely popular rule to protect 58.5 million acres of pristine national forests -- including 4.4 million acres here in California -- from most logging and road-building, was finalized by the US Forest Service in January 2001 after decades of scientific study, 600 public hearings, and a record 1.6 million comments (including more than 400,000 from Californians) in support of the rule. In California, more than 97% of the public comments submitted were in support of the rule.

I urge you to immediately instruct your resources secretary to write a letter to the U.S. Forest Service, clarifying that you do not want the roadless rule rolled back. I also urge you to speak out publicly and frequently in support of the roadless rule. Do not stay silent while this critical protection for the state's roadless wildlands is senselessly stripped away.