They are disappointed that the Forest Service recommends a ban on new roads, but does not permanently ban all logging and off-road vehicle use. They are appalled that it defers a decision on Alaska's Tongass National Forest until the year 2004. They are unhappy that the ban applies to inventoried areas of 5000 or more acres but does not include uninventoried areas of 1000 or more acres. Finally, they urge their followers to turn out for the information and public comment meetings organized by the Forest Service that began last week. The Congress and the public have good reason to question the funding priorities of large foundations.
Private foundations are peculiar creations of public law.
Their assets are tax-exempt. Contributions to them are tax-deductible. They are often established in order to avoid estate taxes. The government gives a foundation these privileges with the expectation that its trustees will respect the intentions of the donor who established it, and that those intentions are benevolent and charitable. Certainly a foundation may support research and education programs.