California
National Forest Needs Protection from the U.S. Forest Service
(Beyond Pesticides June 17, 2005)
Your assistance is needed on a toxic forest alert! The U.S. Forest Service
is proposing the most extreme spray plans in two decades for California’s
National Forests, according to Californians for Alternatives to Toxics
(CATs). The agency is planning to resume a practice that they had previously
ceased due to the risks of negatively impacting the natural environment.
According to CATs,
these proposed projects are considered to be risky, unnecessary, and potentially
precedent setting. Today, there exist numerous non-chemical options to
manage forestland, ranging from hand treatments to mechanical.
The organization CATs, is calling for assistance from the public to help
in their efforts to vigorously oppose the U.S. Forest Service proposals.
Four of the largest projects are expected to cover a total of 40,000 acres.
The U.S. Forest Service R-5 pesticide projects in California National
Forests include the following:
It is believed that spraying could begin as soon as this summer. Environmentalists are concerned that this could be the beginning of a return to large-scale pesticide use in California’s National Forests.
In joining with CATs, Beyond Pesticides encourages the U.S Forest Service to use the proven healthy sustainable solutions. Information on alternative solutions is readily available at http://www.alternatives2toxics.org/publicforests.htm.
To read about similar forest management battles and herbicide manufacturer involvement, see recent article in Pesticides and You.
TAKE ACTION: Contact U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (see SAMPLE LETTER) by email [email protected] or by phone (202) 224-3553 to protest the Forest Service’s proposed plans and ask her assistance to prevent this plan from creating a new trend in the treasured forests of California. To join efforts to combat pesticide projects in California public forestlands, contact [email protected].