TV News LIES

Friday, Jul 18th

Last update07:37:31 AM GMT

You are here News Environment New forest-management plan weakens wildlife protection

New forest-management plan weakens wildlife protection

E-mail Print PDF

National Forest ServiceThe plan, which covers all uses of forest — including timber harvests, grazing, recreation and wilderness — is expected to become final in early March. Until then, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack could still make changes.

But when Vilsack announced the plan last week, he called it "a strong framework to restore and manage our forests and watersheds and help deliver countless benefits to the American people." The plan is being published Friday in the Federal Register.

Conservationists say the wildlife provision is a crucial weak point.

"This plan is much less protective than the 1982 Reagan-era one on wildlife protection," said Niel Lawrence, an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council. "This provision is the single strongest protection for the national forests, and the agency is not retaining it."

The 1982 rule required the Forest Service to manage fish and wildlife habitat so that healthy populations of animals are "well-distributed" throughout each forest.

The new plan drops that language. Instead, it requires forest managers to maintain habitats. It leaves it up to the official in charge of a region's forests to decide whether any individual species needs extra protection to ensure that it will continue to exist over the long term with "sufficient distribution."

More...


Most Recent Related Stories...


Tsunami advisory issued in parts of Alaska after 7.3-magnitude earthquake

Alaskan quakeTsunami advisory issued in parts of Alaska after 7.3-magnitude earthquakeNoaa initially issued a tsunami warning in...

Wildfires destroy historic lodge on Grand Canyon’s North Rim, park says

Historic Grand Canyon lodge destroyedThe historic Grand Canyon Lodge on the monument’s North Rim has been destroyed by a fast-moving...

New York City subway stations flood from heavy rain

NYC subways floodedNew York City’s subway system was fully operational for the Tuesday morning commute, however some roads...

Tropical trouble could be brewing around Florida, hurricane forecasters say

Hurricane forecast for FloridaAnother potential tropical disturbance popped up on the National Hurricane Center's tracking chart on Saturday, July...
 
America's # 1 Enemy
Tee Shirt
& Help Support TvNewsLIES.org!
TVNL Tee Shirt
 
TVNL TOTE BAG
Conserve our Planet
& Help Support TvNewsLIES.org!
 
Get your 9/11 & Media
Deception Dollars
& Help Support TvNewsLIES.org!
 
The Loaded Deck
The First & the Best!
The Media & Bush Admin Exposed!