FEDERATION OF WESTERN OUTDOOR CLUBS

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OPPOSITION TO CHARTER FORESTS 

The 2003 Bush Administration budget for the Department of Agriculture would transform a few national forests into "Charter Forests." These charter forests would be managed by a stakeholder group of municipal, county, state, and tribal officials, as well as representatives of the federal government. Several bills have already been introduced in Congress to implement versions of this idea in various national forests.

The ostensible purpose of this proposal is to provide more local input into forest management, reduce costs, and help rural communities. However, what would really occur is that commodity interests would gain far more control over the management of national forests, and the citizens of the United States would have far less control than they have under the present management of the Forest Service and its regulations.

The Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs strongly opposes the Charter Forest idea.

Contact: Write your representatives in Congress to oppose this idea.