| From
the 1999 Wilderness Society Report
The
Wilderness Society
Preface
Ernie Dickerman Overview Why Protect Wild Areas Southern
Appalachian Ecosystem Unprotected
Wildlands of the
Jefferson National Forest Conclusions Recommendations What You Can Do to Help Co-Sponsors
Definitions:
Wilderness
Roadless Areas
Recreation
Scenery
Old-Growth Forest
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Recommendations
The areas highlighted in this report are highly
valued wildlands that merit and need protection. The Wilderness Society
and the cosponsoring groups recommend the following:
The Forest
Service should defer timber sales and road construction
in these areas while the new
forest plan is being developed. This will ensure that
these areas are protected during their study in the planning process
and
during public
comment on their future. In February 1999, in response to public
concern, the Forest Service adopted an 18-month moratorium on road
construction
in inventoried roadless areas in many national forests, including
the Jefferson. The Forest Service also should include the other
wildlands in this report in the moratorium, and extend its duration
through
the
completion of the plan.
In the upcoming plan, the Forest Service should remove these
areas from the suitable timber base, and ensure their long-term
protection through a variety of categories. The Forest
Service should recommend suitable candidates for preservation
by Congress through designation as wilderness. In addition, the
agency can and
should use administrative designations
in the forest plan
such as backcountry, old-growth forest, high-quality watershed, or
scenic areas for protection of the remaining wildlands in this
proposal.
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