Stop the Burning of Linville Gorge Wilderness

The Issue

The US Forest Service Nantahala-Pisgah 15-Year Forest Management Plan Update is underway.  NOW IS THE TIME to let the US Forest Service know that you oppose incorporating any programs or plans that include man-initiated burning to manage the Linville Gorge Wilderness. This petition is a vehicle to notify the USFS that you want to keep the wilderness wild and that you oppose man-initiated burning of the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area, which violates the 1964 Wilderness Act and stands to forever change this rare sanctuary of nature.

In addition to destroying the wilderness quality of the Linville Gorge there are many reasons that we should act to stop "prescribed" burning of forests:

- New published research by fire ecology scientists are finding that the nature of prescribed burns with their low-intensity fires are much less common than purported, don’t support biological diversity or natural processes, and do not prevent more severe fires. For more information go to: www.SaveLGW.org.      

- Production of toxic releases of formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, acrolein, respirable particulates, benzene and large carbon releases into the atmosphere

- Damage to ecosystems and waterways

- Risks for out of control fires, killing of animals and loss of habitat

- Threats to human health and safety

- Loss of recreational use

- Destruction of the scenic value

- Damage to local economies

- Wasting of taxpayer dollars

Act now to save the Linville Gorge Wilderness by signing this petition.

avatar of the starter
Save Linville Gorge WildernessPetition StarterWe are a growing coalition of citizens that see the U.S. Forest Service's prescribed burns in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area as a transgression of the purpose of Wilderness. Save Linville Gorge Wilderness was accepted as a chapter of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League in May, 2013. The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League is a regional, community-based, non-profit environmental organization established in 1984. Our founding principles are earth stewardship, environmental democracy, social justice, and community empowerment.
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This petition had 1,489 supporters

The Issue

The US Forest Service Nantahala-Pisgah 15-Year Forest Management Plan Update is underway.  NOW IS THE TIME to let the US Forest Service know that you oppose incorporating any programs or plans that include man-initiated burning to manage the Linville Gorge Wilderness. This petition is a vehicle to notify the USFS that you want to keep the wilderness wild and that you oppose man-initiated burning of the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area, which violates the 1964 Wilderness Act and stands to forever change this rare sanctuary of nature.

In addition to destroying the wilderness quality of the Linville Gorge there are many reasons that we should act to stop "prescribed" burning of forests:

- New published research by fire ecology scientists are finding that the nature of prescribed burns with their low-intensity fires are much less common than purported, don’t support biological diversity or natural processes, and do not prevent more severe fires. For more information go to: www.SaveLGW.org.      

- Production of toxic releases of formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, acrolein, respirable particulates, benzene and large carbon releases into the atmosphere

- Damage to ecosystems and waterways

- Risks for out of control fires, killing of animals and loss of habitat

- Threats to human health and safety

- Loss of recreational use

- Destruction of the scenic value

- Damage to local economies

- Wasting of taxpayer dollars

Act now to save the Linville Gorge Wilderness by signing this petition.

avatar of the starter
Save Linville Gorge WildernessPetition StarterWe are a growing coalition of citizens that see the U.S. Forest Service's prescribed burns in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area as a transgression of the purpose of Wilderness. Save Linville Gorge Wilderness was accepted as a chapter of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League in May, 2013. The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League is a regional, community-based, non-profit environmental organization established in 1984. Our founding principles are earth stewardship, environmental democracy, social justice, and community empowerment.
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

SaveLGW
SaveLGW
Save Linville Gorge Wilderness
Responded
“Due to the 1964 Wilderness Act all of the following must be conducted prior to any allowance man-initiated burning for the purpose of fuel reduction: 1. Analyze whether the agency's plan for prescribed fire matches the area's historic fire regime in terms of such things as fire intensity, fire frequency, and time of year. (e.g., was the historic fire regime one of intense crown fires and/or stand-replacement fires, or one of less intense ground fires? At what time of year did fires historically burn in the Linville Gorge Wilderness, and does the FS plan match that temporally? Historically, how frequently did natural fires burn in the Linville Gorge Wilderness?) 2. Conduct a Minimum Requirements Decision Guide analysis for every non-conforming use that the agency proposes, for example, for chainsaw use within the Wilderness or aerial ignition via plane or helicopter. 3. Analyze the impacts to wilderness character of any fire lines cut in the wilderness, and analyze how cutting fire lines could increase the invasion of non-native invasive species within the Linville Gorge Wilderness. 4. Analyze why natural lightning-caused fire alone cannot be used to restore fire to the ecosystem. Please analyze whether lightning fires alone could not also benefit the Table Mountain, pitch, and shortleaf pines and oak woodlands. 5. Human-ignited prescribed fire is a major manipulation or trammeling of Wilderness. Please analyze the damage to the Linville Gorge Wilderness' untrammeled quality with the plan that extensively manipulates the Wilderness with fire, fire lines, etc. 6. Advise what if any retardants will be used within the Linville Gorge Wilderness and, if so, please conduct a full environmental analysis of the retardant's impacts on the Wilderness and the ecosystem. 7. Conduct a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to validate any use of man-ignited fire for the purpose of fuel reduction. This proposal is a major federal action significantly affecting the environment of the Linville Gorge Wilderness and, as such, should have the full analysis of an EIS rather than an EA. 8. Advise how climate change will impact fire behavior and, particularly, extreme fire events? 9. Advise how climate change will impact existing fuel treatments modify future fire behavior so as to aid fire suppression? 10. Advise what fire sensitive flora and fauna exist in the Linville Gorge Wilderness and what measures will be instituted to protect them and their role in the forest. 11. Disprove new research which establishes that prescribed burn provides little to no reduction of severe fire. 12. Prove conclusively how fuel reduction can be accomplished without removal of wood materials from the Linville Gorge Wilderness. 13. Prove conclusively how prescribed burns will not violate the Class 1 air quality designation for the Linville Gorge Wilderness. 14. Prove conclusively how prescribed burns will significantly prevent forest fires in times of drought when these events are most likely to happen. ”
North Carolina US Forest Service Forest Supervisor
North Carolina US Forest Service Forest Supervisor
US Forest Service
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Petition created on September 28, 2013