Letter: America has opportunity to protect forests

Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000 | 9:42 a.m.

At the beginning of the new millennium, we have the opportunity to determine the fate of our forest wilderness.

President Clinton has launched a land conservation initiative that would be an historic gift to future Americans, including those in Nevada, specifically through management of roadless areas in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. On Oct. 13, 1999, President Clinton announced a directive to the U.S. Forest Service to begin preparing a policy that would protect nearly 60 million acres of forest wilderness in our national forests. This policy will become final towards the end of 2000.

Already more than half of our national forests have been developed to the point that they are no longer considered wilderness.

This policy will determine whether the last 60 million acres of our forests will be permanently protected from logging, road-building or other destructive activities, or whether they will be opened up to chainsaws and bulldozers.

If accomplished, this initiative would be the largest public land protection effort of the 20th century.

What a way to begin the new millennium!

AARON VILES Forests campaign coordinator, U.S. Public Interest Research Group