AMERICA'S LARGEST, WILDEST NATIONAL FORESTS WIN BIG WITH COURT RULING!

A decision today by the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals lifts preliminary
injunction putting the Roadless Rule into effect immediately! After nearly 2
years of delay, the Bush Administration is now required to protect the 58.5
million acres of roadless areas within our National Forests, including
nearly 14 million acres within the Tongass and Chugach National Forests. The
court case now moves back down to the District Court level where opponents
must win an uphill battle in their efforts to overturn the Roadless Rule.


ALASKA RAINFOREST CAMPAIGN PRESS RELEASE ON RULING BELOW:

Court to Bush Administration: Protect Alaska's Tongass and Chugach Forests
America's largest, wildest national forests win big with court ruling

Today, as the result of a federal district court decision, tens of millions
of acres of wild, road-free forests in Alaska have won a reprieve from the
chainsaws and bulldozers.

"This is great day for the Tongass and Chugach National Forests," said
Michael Finkelstein, Campaign Director of the Alaska Rainforest Campaign.
"Alaska has the most at stake.  One-fourth of the forest acres protected by
the roadless rule are located in the Tongass and Chugach national forests."

The court decision, which lifts an injunction issued by a lower court
barring the implementation of the Roadless Rule, could not have come at a
better time for Alaska's forests, particularly the 17 million acre Tongass.
Presently, the Forest Service is working up plans for over two dozen timber
sales that would enter Tongass roadless areas.  Over 9 million acres of the
Tongass and 5 million acres of the Chugach are protected by the Rule.

"Today's decision also sends a strong message that the Bush Administration
cannot simply defer to its timber industry supporters," said Tim Bristol,
Director of the Alaska Coalition. "The Administration has a responsibility
to the American public to defend this vital piece of public lands policy."

The Forest Service conducted years of scientific analysis, and held over 600
hearings, including several in Alaska, before issuing the final roadless
rule in January 2001.

The rule, which safeguards 58 million acres of road free national forest
lands from destructive road building and logging, proved wildly popular with
the American public, attracting over 1.5 million comments.

"This is what America wants for its forests in Alaska," said Finkelstein.

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