Don't Let the Roadless Rule Die and Other Tree News

Don't Let the Administration Kill the Roadless Rule

The deadline is approaching this Friday September 19 to stand up for about 30 percent of our National Forest land against the mining, logging, construction and other extractive industries that would benefit by the rescission of the Roadless Rule. Please go to this Outdoor Alliance Site for concise details about what's at stake and use FastAction to submit your public comment.
 

Did you know that about 30 percent of National Forest land is already open to commercial development? Only about 18 percent is protected as a designated Wilderness area. This rescission would open up the rest of our National Forests to further development, putting trees, sacred places, waterways, landscapes, trails, wildlife, clean air, carbon sequestration and many other public goods at risk of loss and degradation. 

As an example of what can happen, two mining companies are already drilling and exploring in the Tongass National Forest in Southern Alaska, where roadless rules have already been rescinded. The Forest Service is part of the US Department of Agriculture, so forest trees are basically treated as a crop. Thank you for commenting and telling your friends!

Trail Marker Trees Officially Recognized in Texas

Culturally modified trees have been recognized as such in Texas by the Comanche Nation and a book has recently been published. The late Dr. James Jefferson, a Ute elder, said that the Comanche people were taught to modify the trees by Ute people. Utes and Comanches interrelated before they were separated and forced onto reservation lands. Evidence of both tribes' presence is especially strong in the south central portion of Colorado.

Learn more on a Texan's Facebook page here. 

Tracking CMT Presentations 

A presentation by Lynn Albers was held this summer at Betty Ford Gardens in Vail, Colorado.  We'll try to bring you news of other presentations, hopefully BEFORE they happen! 

A New Book I'm Looking Forward to Reading

Here's a Barn Raiser review of the book Branching Out: The Public History of Trees, by Leah Glaser and Philip Levy. 

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