As the new home of NMPIRG's environmental work,
Environment New Mexico can be contacted with any questions regarding this
news release.
NMPIRG
applauded Gov. Richardson for filing a petition today with the U.S.
Secretary of Agriculture, seeking immediate, full and lasting
protection for more than nine million acres of unspoiled forest land in
the Carson, Cibola, Gila, Lincoln, and Santa Fe National Forests.
“Protecting
New Mexico’s wild forests means preserving our wildlife habitat,
drinking water supplies, and natural beauty,” said Jeanne Bassett,
director of NMPIRG. “In light of the tens of thousands of New Mexicans
who have pleaded for the protection of these natural areas, we applaud
Gov. Richardson’s move."
NMPIRG
has collected tens of thousands signatures from state residents in
favor of the original federal rule designed to protect the state’s wild
forests. Over the last several years, more than 20,000 New Mexicans in
all have sent comments to the federal government in favor of preserving
the remaining undeveloped, unprotected portions of the state’s national
forests.
The
petition filed by Gov. Richardson calls on the secretary to protect all
of the inventoried undeveloped, or “roadless” areas in the Carson,
Cibola, Gila, Lincoln, and Santa Fe National Forests, including the
Valle Vidal Area in the Carson National Forest. It also calls on the
secretary to implement protections provided in the Roadless Area
Conservation Rule of 2001, which covered all 58.5 million unroaded
acres in the United States. In July, the Bush administration overturned
that rule and replaced it with a process by which governors must
petition the secretary to protect wild forests in their states.
“Governor
Richardson’s stand to protect our wild forests comes after a
disappointing attempt by the federal government to open up our forests
to logging and road-building, despite broad support for protecting
these areas,” said Bassett. “We’re proud that Governor Richardson is
standing up for the state’s natural beauty and the will of its people.”
