Raleigh--Environment North Carolina applauded Gov. Easley for
filing a petition today with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, seeking immediate,
full and lasting protection for more than 170,000 acres of unspoiled forest
land in the Pisgah, Nantahala, and Croatan
National Forests.
“Protecting North Carolina’s
wild forests means preserving our wildlife habitat, drinking water supplies,
and natural beauty,” said Elizabeth Ouzts, state director of Environment North
Carolina. “In light of the tens of
thousands of North Carolinians who have
pleaded for the protection of these natural areas, we applaud Gov. Easley’s
move."
Environment
North Carolina
has collected tens of thousands signatures from state residents in favor of the
original federal rule designed to protect the state’s wild forests. Over the last several years, more than 50,000
North Carolinians in all have sent comments to
the federal government in favor of preserving the remaining undeveloped,
unprotected portions of the state’s national forests.
The petition filed by Gov. Easley calls on the secretary to protect all of the
inventoried undeveloped, or “roadless” areas in the Pisgah National Forest, the
Nantahala National Forest, and the Croatan National Forest. It also calls
on the secretary to implement protections provided in the Roadless Area
Conservation Rule of 2001, which covered all 58.5 million unroaded acres in the
United States.
In July, the Bush Administration overturned that rule and replaced it
with a process by which governors must petition the secretary to protect wild
forests in their states.
“Governor
Easley’s stand to protect our wild forests comes after a disappointing attempt
by the federal government to open up our forests to logging and road-building,
despite broad support for protecting these areas,” said Breanna Peterson, field
associate with Environment North Carolina.
“We’re proud that Governor Easley is standing up for the state’s natural
beauty and the will of its people.”
