A Light in the Forests - New York Times

A Light in the Forests - New York Times: "Editorial
A Light in the Forests


Published: September 9, 2005

The Bush administration has largely succeeded in its systematic effort to roll back environmental protections for America's national forests. It has weakened agreements to protect old-growth trees in the Pacific Northwest, persuaded Congress to adopt an industry-friendly plan for fire suppression and overhauled rules governing forest management in ways that erode safeguards not only for the forests but also for the endangered species that live there.

Now, however, a rebellion is brewing where the White House least expected it. Western governors are challenging the most controversial rollback of all: the decision to repeal a popular rule approved near the end of the Clinton administration to protect nearly 60 million acres of remote national forest from commercial development.

The attorneys general of California and New Mexico and the governor of Oregon have filed a suit charging that the administration failed to conduct necessary environmental reviews before imposing the new rule. They argued further that the rule would endanger 'the last, most pristine portions of America's national forests,' leading to excessive logging and destroying essential watersheds."