REMINDER: Join Wilderness Watch and our partners at the Great Old Broads for Wilderness at 5pm MDT on Thursday, June 11 for a webinar about “Chainsaws and the Wilderness Act.”
If you have not already registered, please click here to register for this free webinar. Panelists include: • Dana Johnson, Policy Director, Wilderness Watch
• Ken Straley, retired USFS Wilderness Manager
• N. Taylor, retired regional USFS Wilderness Manager
• Anne Dal Vera, retired USFS Wilderness Ranger
BACKGROUND: In May, the U.S. Forest Service authorized the use of gas-powered chainsaws by commercial outfitters and guides for seven months a year for up to three years on 542 miles of trail in about half of the River of No Return Wilderness.
The Forest Service made this decision after a year of secret, behind-closed-door negotiations with the Idaho Outfitter and Guides Association with no opportunities for public comment, no environmental review, and no regard for federal laws, including the Wilderness Act.
We absolutely do not believe this authorization is legal under the Wilderness Act or the National Environmental Policy Act. Not only does this move go against the mandate of the Wilderness Act prohibiting the use of motorized equipment in designated Wilderness areas, it could also set a dangerous precedent for the management of Wilderness across the country. Check out our new FAQ for more detailed information. During the webinar, you will learn more about why this Forest Service action goes beyond chainsaws, and what you can do to halt moves like this that strike at the very core of the Wilderness Act.
Together we will stop this attack on the Wilderness Act, and ensure that these special landscapes remain natural and wild for generations to come. We hope you can join us at 5pm MDT on Thursday, June 11. |
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Help us protect the River of No Return Wilderness and Wilderness around the country. A generous member has pledged to DOUBLE all first-time donations up to $30,000 this year. |
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