25, No. 4 Photo version of this issue. A pril 1999 brings a milestone year-our 25th anniversary as Oregon's leading activists and advocates for protecting forests. In physics, a lever is a bar that transfers and magnifies force, giving the person applying the pressure the ability to lift or move a far greater weight than he or she could manage without the tool.
Leverage works in a similar way for the environment.
A small, dedicated organization like Oregon Natural Resources Council can use the levers of law, policy and public opinion to force movement in the behemoth world of the U.S. Forest Service and other federal agencies. The National Roadless Area Project provides ONRC a unique and monumental opportunity to use these levers to fundamentally alter the management of our remaining wild forests. The policy has the potential to protect the most vital and threatened sanctuaries we have. It could have tremendous impact on Forest Service lands in Oregon and throughout the country. ONRC helped to initiate this project and remains its leader.