What's new

The Forest Service recently released its updated plan for the White Mountain National Forest. The plan designates 17,100 acres in Maine as wild "roadless" forests, up from 6,000 acres in the old plan. This update nearly triples the amount of pristine forestland that Gov. Baldacci can petition the Bush administration to protect from road-building, logging and mining.

 

How you can help

Even with a 2006 court ruling in favor of protections, these wild forests are at risk until Congress passes legislation to make protections permanent. So please ask your Member of Congress to protect Maine's wild forests.

Brief summary

In the heart of Maine's mountain country, the dense canopies and meandering hiking trails of the White Mountain National Forest provide a haven for wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

But last summer, the Bush administration repealed the Roadless Rule, which protected pristine areas of national forest from development, logging and mining, and replaced it with a petition process. Through this process, the state must petition the administration to protect its wild forests or they will be open to development. This change means that in Maine, 17,100 acres of pristine forests in the White Mountain National Forest are on the chopping block. These wild forests provide critical habitat for four threatened or endangered species, shelter the watersheds for southern Maine's drinking water supplies, and support a growing multi-billion dollar recreation industry.

Gov. Baldacci and the Department of Conservation have vowed to call for complete protection of all 17,100 acres, but their voices alone won't be enough. With your help, Maine can trump this attempt to divvy up our wild forests to private industry and protect our natural heritage.

 

Additional Links

Heritage Forests Campaign
(www.ourforests.org) 

USDA Forest Service - Roadless Area Conservation Rule
(roadless.fs.fed.us) 

U.S. EPA - Watershed Information
(cfpub.epa.gov) 

Maine Department of Conservation
(www.maine.gov)