Governor Outreach - Roadless
Governor's Roadless Protection
In an effort to provide Governors with the support they need to petition the Administration for full roadless area protection, SAFC will call upon the resources in our Conservation Vision: Return the Great Forest, our Forest Management Plan revision experience, and public support and outreach.
There's where YOU come in.... we need to let our Governors know that we want them to support complete roadless area protection.
Please take a moment to write your Governor a letter. Governor contact information and a sample letter follow, but please don't be afraid to use your own language. Remember, your Governor is YOURS and he cares what you think.
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Governor _________:
We would like to take this opportunity to express our support for ultimate Roadless area protection. We appreciate the perspective that state governments are important partners in the management of National Forest lands, especially now that the Bush administration has implemented a special petition process that includes new procedural requirements and deadlines specific to roadless area management.
We believe it is the responsibility of the federal government to steward public lands, including development and application of consistent, proactive standards for National Forest Roadless areas. The Roadless Area Conservation Rule was established through unprecedented public involvement, demonstrating strong support for a national policy to protect the remaining Roadless areas.
If left unprotected, these areas could be changed forever - and their roadless qualities permanently lost - by the decision at any point in time to allow road building. Current Forest Management Plans do not completely protect these valuable areas. Due to the language, even protection provided under the current Forest Management Plan can be compromised. The Roadless Area Conservation Rule of 2001 achieved a reasonable balance among competing interests and fairly addressed concerns raised during the comment process.
Here in the Southeast, a very small percentage of national forestlands remains roadless and wild. The great majority of your constituents want to preserve and protect them for their rare beauty, clean drinking water, valuable recreation, and hunting and fishing opportunities. As Governor of _________, we hope that you will fulfill your responsibility to protect and conserve these natural treasures.
Given that the decision regarding how to manage __________'s roadless areas has been passed to you, we urge you to file a petition to the Secretary of Agriculture that will uphold the level of protection that the Roadless Rule of 2001 provided - taking advantage of the opportunity that the new rule has provided and making a statement of support, along with thousands of citizens from this state, in seeing these important areas protected.
Sincerely,
Your Name and Address
| STATE | Governor | Address | City, State, Zip | Phone |
| NC | Michael Easley | 20301 Mail Service Center | Raleigh, NC 27699-0301 | 919 733-4240 |
| AL | Bob Riley | State Capitol, 600 Dexter Ave. | Montgomery, AL 36130 | 334 242-7100 |
| GA | Sonny Perdue | Office of the Governor, Georgia State Capitol, | Atlanta, GA 30334 | 404 656-1776 |
| SC | Mark Sanford | Office of the Governor; P.O. Box 12267 | Columbia, SC 29211 | 803 734-5167 |
| TN | Phil Bredesen | Governor's Office, State Capitol | Nashville, TN 37243-0001 | 615 741-2001 |
| VA | Mark R. Warner | State Capitol, 3rd Floor | Richmond, Virginia 23219 | 804 786-2211 |