From the Office of Senator Kerry

Thursday, July 15, 1999

Washington, D.C. - Today, Senator John F. Kerry (D-MA) today joined Senator Robert Torricelli (D-NJ) to introduce the 1999 Act to Save America's Forests. The legislation, which has received the endorsement of over 600 scientists, including Harvard's E.O. Wilson, will end clearcutting on all federal lands and stop logging in the last of our Ancient Forests.

"Over the past 200 years we have lost 95 percent of America's forests to logging. We can't afford to lose another acre of trees that are often older than the United States itself. The Act to Save America's Forests will protect these remaining national treasures for all Americans to enjoy -- for hiking, fishing, boating, bird-watching, and mountain-climbing. " said Senator Kerry. "This bill is based on sound science, and will preserve these irreplaceable forests while allowing for economically sustainable logging. "

The Act to Save America's Forest would make the preservation and restoration of native biodiversity the primary goal of the our national forest management agencies. In addition, the bill would ban destructive logging in critical areas, including Ancient forests, roadless areas and "special areas" of outstanding biological values, end destructive clearcutting on federal lands and establish a panel of scientists to guide federal forest management policy.

The bill is the first nationwide legislation that would halt and reverse deforestation on all our federal lands. By implementing protective measures based on principles of conservation biology, the bill provides a scientifically sound legislative solution for halting the rapid decline of our nation's forest ecosystems."

Senator Kerry is a chief cosponsor of the legislation, which has been introduced in the Senate by Senate Robert Torricelli and in the House by Representative Anna Eshoo.