Bush Administration Selling National Forests

NRDC feature

In a reckless attempt to cover its own budgetary mishaps, the Bush Administration is proposing the sale of 1,250 square miles of national forests and public wildlands -- an area the size of Yosemite National Park -- to logging companies, real estate developers and other private interests. The raid on our public estate would sacrifice stretches of three NRDC BioGems, including prime habitat in Greater Yellowstone for bears, elk and wolves; popular recreation spots in Alaska's Tongass National Forest; and wildlife-rich ecosystems in the Greater Cumberland Plateau region, as well as hundreds of other natural treasures. The first of two Bush Administration proposals calls for auctioning off 300,000 acres of irreplaceable national forest lands spanning 35 states in a shortsighted approach to funding a rural schools program. California alone would lose 75,000 acres of its national forests. The second scheme would enable the administration to sell off hundreds of thousands of acres of public wildlands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management and use the proceeds for deficit reduction.

Dozens of newspaper editorials have protested the folly of proposals that would sell the birthright of future generations to pay off short-term bills. NRDC is mobilizing Members and online activists nationally and running hard-hitting radio and newspaper ads in key states to block this unprecedented raid on our natural heritage. We will also be working with local ranchers, hunters, fishermen, hikers and other frequent forest users to bring urgently needed political pressure to bear in Washington when these proposals come before Congress.


Other Links

Washington Post

Baltimore Sun

Sierra Club


This is just a short list of all the sites that are covering this issue. This is just horrible. There is a reason these lands are kept safe, they are not just protected so that we can get rid of them in the future in exchange for money. Knock off all the stupid tax cuts and use that money to pay for new schools etc. These are national treasures and there are not that much anymore. If we allow this to continue, we wont have national forests but literally only national "parks" (like "we are going to the park swingset"). Again, these have been protected by our government............it should not be an issue to just sell them off now.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusguy04 @ May 16 2006, 06:04 PM) [snapback]256537[/snapback]</div>

This has been an issue since the beginning of the year but has really not been brought to the headlines. Hopefully, congress will trash this idea like they did last year when Bushies tried opening up a lot of these areas for mining. Just hoping enough people see this and take some action. I try and keep pretty much up to date with material like this but I haven't seen this until now. Very upsetting!!! :angry:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fshagan @ May 17 2006, 12:24 AM) [snapback]256685[/snapback]</div>

Whats your point? This is an issue of selling those lands to the highest bidder. These lands have been previously protected and their sale should not be an issue. Yes, indeed, there are some that probably are not necessary crucial points of protection. There are arguments that these are lands that are on the outer areas of the forests and are close to communities. If these lands are sold and opened to development, in 5-10 years they can say the same thing again when these areas have become fully developed..... "Well, these areas are close to the community and are not important protected areas." It would be an endless cycle with whole areas auctioned off over time. You give them a little here and there, which would satisfy them for the time, but then in a few years they will come back and say the same thing again. That is why it is important to make a stand now and prevent any auctioning off of these protected lands. If they are controlled by whoever, then shame on them for not doing their job at protecting these areas.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fshagan @ May 17 2006, 11:56 PM) [snapback]257346[/snapback]</div>

Whenever you sell something, I recommend you sell it to the highest bidder.

I agree.....that's common sense.

But beside that tidbit of anti-capitalist sentiment

What??!!!


The selling of these lands to makeup for improper handling and short comings of the administration to provide money for rural schools and to knock off some of the deficit is ridiculous. Once these areas are gone, they are gone! Not all of these areas are deserts or pieces of crap as you suggest. I would not be surprised if a lot of it is highly valuable land or they wouldn't be selling it. Why would logging companies be bidding for it if it was invaluable. Again, they are protected and should remain so. Continuing to sell off pieces of land will result in more and more because once they have done it, they WILL do it again.