It is imperative that all Americans work together to pass this bill, before our nation's natural heritage is lost forever. For decades, citizens have attempted to stop Forest Service destruction of our public forestlands by using the timber sale appeals process, lawsuits, and participation in national forest planning. Despite all these efforts, the Forest Service continues to allow private timber companies to clearcut old growth and roadless forests throughout our national forest system, destroying critical forest habitat, ruining important recreational areas and violating the public trust. The costs to the American people in environmental damage and wasted tax dollars are staggering. Increased species extinction, flooding and landslides are examples of the destruction resulting from clearcutting in fragile forest watersheds.
Natural forests act as giant sponges that regulate the flow of water into streams and rivers.
During and after rain, the trees and shrubs hold vast amounts of water in their trunks and leaves, and their roots bind and stabilize the soil. Clearcut areas don't absorb water. Instead, when heavy rains come, clearcut areas allow for rapid runoff, causing flooding and erosion. The floodwater transports tons of silt, clogging waterways. In steep areas, the earth can no longer resist the pull of gravity and pulls away in a landslide.