please sign petition located at : http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1780/t/430/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=650

Lately we've been updating you on our efforts to protect Oregon's roadless wildlands. We are pleased that President Obama has expressed his support for reinstating the 2001 Roadless Rule. Doing so would protect nearly 2 million acres of pristine wildlands in Oregon. However, with the new administration focusing on other issues, future management of roadless areas remains unclear. Unfortunately, with a distracted administration, some see one last opportunity to profit from the destruction of places that will soon be off limits.

Take action today and urge Secretary Vilsack to call a "time out" on road-building in our roadless National Forests until the roadless rule can be fully reinstated.

Roads decimate habitat, cause erosion, and despoil our favorite recreation areas.

A number of projects threaten Oregon's roadless wildlands. The most egregious is "The Red Zone Project." During the entire eight years of the Bush administration, only 7 miles of roads were built in roadless areas. The Red Zone Project alone would create 27 miles of roads and includes significant logging in three inventoried roadless areas in Southern Oregon, including the Deadhorse Rim Roadless Area. Logging and road building would even occur right next door to the Gearhart Mountain Wilderness.

We already have twice as many roads in our National Forests as in the entire US Highway System -- and they face a maintenance backlog that exceeds $10 billion! There are enough roads in Oregon to drive to the moon and part way back. The last thing we need to do is build more.

Take action to stop bad ideas like "The Red Zone Project" in their tracks.

The Roadless Rule is still the best way to protect our pristine roadless wildlands. We look forward to its eventual reinstatement and will work to ensure its lasting effect.

Myrtle Silvies Roadless Area. Photo by Sandy Lonsdale.

However, until that happens, roadless wildlands should not be destroyed. That's why senators, congressmen, conservation groups, businesses, and citizens across the country are calling on Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to call for an immediate "time out" on road-building and other destructive activities on our pristine national forestlands until the rule can be reinstated.

Oregon's roadless wildlands are not only some of the most beautiful places in the state, they are also critically important for myriad other reasons. Protection of roadless wildlands extends to the wildlife that depends on them and to the unique recreational opportunities and economies they support. Additionally, 60 million Americans and 80% of Oregonians depend on sources of drinking water that originate in roadless areas.

Take action now to make sure our precious roadless wildlands are protected.

For the wild,
Rob Klavins
Roadless Wildlands Advocate
Oregon Wild

P.S. Your e-mail asking Secretary Vilsack to protect our pristine roadless wildlands will be copied to your representatives in Washington. Don't forget to take action here!