Robert Torricelli: “Today, Senator Kerry and I are introducing the Save America's Forests Act. I rise to draw this country's attention to…”

“Today, Senator Kerry and I are introducing the Save America's Forests Act. I rise to draw this country's attention to the management practices that threaten the health of our Nation's forest lands. When this country was founded over 200 years ago, it is estimated that there was 1 billion acres of forest land across this Nation. Today, 95 percent of those original virgin forests have been cut down. Forests are unique and valuable public assets. Large, unfragmented forest watersheds provide high-quality water supplies for drinking, agriculture, industry, as well as habitat for recreational and commercial fisheries and other wildlife. The large-scale destruction of natural forests threatens other industries such as tourism and fishing with job loss. As a legacy for the enjoyment, knowledge, and well-being of future generations, provisions must be made for the protection and perpetuation of America's forests. We must also set an example to poorer developing countries to preserve their vast forests so they do not make the same mistakes we did. We cannot call upon these countries to preserve large portions of their rain forests when we do not preserve the last fraction of our own ancient forests. Clear cutting, even aged logging practices, and timber road construction have been the preferred management practices used on our Federal forests in recent years. These practices have caused widespread forest ecosystem fragmentation and degradation.”