Statement of Rodger Schlickeisen, President of Defenders of Wildlife, on Clinton Roadless Initiative

(01/05/2001) - Washington, DC – From bald eagles to songbirds to gray wolves and chinook salmon, thousands of imperilled wildlife species will now be better protected as a result of today’s announcement. Defenders of Wildlife applauds President Clinton for the courage and vision he has shown in this final roadless forest protection rule. This sweeping land protection program is the culmination of more than three years of work and public input, and builds on more than 25 years of debate and discussion on the subject.

Little of our nation remains as it once was: wild, unroaded, undeveloped. By leaving a portion of our National Forests as they once were, President Clinton has taken the single best step toward assuring the continuing presence of our wildlife heritage in the American landscape. This is a signature victory for conservation and will help to secure habitat for more than 220 threatened, endangered, and to-be listed species and 1,930 sensitive species.

President Clinton has responded with this initiative to the overwhelming will of the American public. The roadless initiative is a model of public input into the management of public lands, and broadly inclusive policy making. The Forest Service held more than 600 hearings around the country on this policy, and incorporated the input of two million official comments on the rule. These hearings and public comments were overwhelmingly in favor of "complete protection without exception."

It would be incredibly shortsighted of the new Bush administration to attempt to undermine this popular initiative. Indeed, the protection of roadless areas became stronger and stronger while this rule developed, because the White House recognized the overwhelming volume of public support for protecting these special places in our nation.

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Contact(s):

Cat Lazaroff, (202) 772-3270