Friends of Allegheny Wilderness seeks to foster an appreciation of wilderness values and benefits, and to work with local communities to ensure that increased wilderness protection is a priority of the stewardship of the Allegheny National Forest.
"It must be concluded that the demand for wilderness experience on the ANF is very high,
given that half the country's population lies within a day's drive of the Forest....
It seems obvious that the demand for wilderness designation on the Forest is high, and the
available supply in the regional area is low."
America's national forests were established in part "to furnish a continuous
supply of timber for citizens of the United States." Further, the 1911 Weeks
Act, which allowed the federal government to establish the Allegheny
National Forest and other national forests in the eastern United States,
also provides for the "production of timber."
Friends of Allegheny Wilderness does not oppose logging in the Allegheny
National Forest, nor do we support the efforts of those who do.
However, extremely important wrinkles have been added to the management scheme of the National
Forest System over the years. The 1960 Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act
states that "The establishment and maintenance of areas of wilderness are
consistent with the purposes and provisions of this Act." And of course, the
Wilderness Act of 1964 directed Congress to establish wilderness areas on
national forest land "In order to assure that an increasing population,
accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not
occupy and modify all areas within the United States and its possessions,
leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural
condition."
At less than two percent of its landbase protected as wilderness, the Allegheny
National Forest is sorely underrepresented in terms of acreage allocated to
America's National Wilderness Preservation System. Please explore our website
to find out how you can help rectify that situation for this, the home national forest
of Wilderness Act author Howard Zahniser!
Write your members of Congress!
Designating wilderness in the Allegheny National Forest requires an act of the U.S. Congress. Of the 8,200 public comments the U.S. Forest Service received on their draft Forest Plan in 2006, more than 6,800 (over 80 percent) specifically supported FAW! Urging your members of Congress to now legislatively support this public mandate with the Citizens' Wilderness Proposal is absolutely critical. Here's how to do it:
Download a draft letter (in Microsoft Word format) that urges support for the Citizens' Wilderness Proposal. Fill in today's date, add your return address, and put your name at the bottom. If you like, edit the letter to reflect your own style and to express your personal feelings about the Allegheny.
Print several copies of the letter, each with the proper salutation for the following members of Congress. One copy each should go to Senator Pat Toomey and Senator Bob Casey. The primary decision maker in the U.S. House is Congressman Glenn Thompson, who represents the entirety of the ANF. If you do not live in his district, address the letter to your own U.S. Rep. with a copy to Rep. Thompson. Find out who your representative is by visiting http://www.house.gov
Almost done! Just sign each letter, seal them in appropriately addressed and stamped envelopes (addresses are below), and drop them in the mail!
Thank you for helping to support permanent protection for the last remaining wild areas of the Allegheny National Forest for future generations to use and enjoy!
The Honorable Glenn Thompson
United States Representative
3555 Benner Pike
Bellefonte, PA 16823
The Honorable Bob Casey
United States Senator
17 South Park Row
Federal Building, Suite B-150
Erie, PA 16501
The Honorable Pat Toomey
United States Senator
17 South Park Row
Federal Building, Suite B-120
Erie, PA 16501
Learn more about FAW's A Citizens' Wilderness Proposal for Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest! Read the Executive Summary and see the maps of our proposed wilderness and national recreation areas.
220 Center Street | Warren, PA | 16365 | 814.723.0620 |info@pawild.org
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