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- 2. Mandates Native Biological Diversity-This means that. by law, maintaining NATIVE biological diversity will be the main priority of federal land management agencies. Current practices are simplify¬ing ecosystems, creating "monocultures" (single species tree farms), causing extinction of native plant and animal species.
3. Creates dispersed citizen enforcement-The federal land management agencies have proven that they have no regard for the law (e.g. the decision by Judge Dwyer). Unfortunately, public recourse against timber management agencies is very limited. Other environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act provide compensation for citizens who successfully sue the federal government for violation of federal law, allowing for greater enforcement. Resulting in less violation of law. H.R. 1969 would provide similar enforcement measures, ensuring that the good provisions in the bill will become reality on the ground.
What about other bills?
1. H.R. 1969 is the only forest protection legislation in front of Congress that is nationwide in scope and contains citizen enforcement provisions. It is the only bill that clearly articulates the desires of average citizens across the country who are trying to protect their local forest ecosystems.
2. While other regional bills, such as the Ancient Forest Protection Act offer the hope of protection for one region, the timber industry is already moving across the country to log in the last roadless areas from coast to coast, clearcutting the best and last of our publicly held native and virgin forests. For example, in late 1991 Sen. Max Baucus from Montana tried to rush through a "wilderness" bill that would have "protected" 1 million acres of high rock and ice while releasing over 4 million acres of low elevation virgin Montana roadless areas for clearcutting.
Also, the industry is trying to leverage the Northwest regional timber issue into a nationwide revision of timber laws which would increase clearcutting and further limit citizen rights. Strong, clearly worded, nationwide pro-forest legislation is needed to counter this offensive.
The Forest Biodiversity and Clearcutting Prohibition Act (H.B. 1969) is the strongest nationwide forest protection bill in Congress today, and as such, is a lightning rod for the entire forest protection move-ment from coast to coast. It would solve basic problems faced by ALL forest protection activists, allowing them greater strength and resources to fight the remaining regional and international battles.
To get a free copy of H.R. 1969, call the House of Representatives Document Office-202-225-3456.
Write your members of Congress today. Ask your Representative to cosponsor H.R.1969. Ask your Senators to introduce a companion bill to H.R. 1969. v Rep. _ U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Sen. _ U.S. Senate Washington, DC 20510
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