PRESIDENT BUSH has enraged environmentalists by opening protected millions of acres of national forest lands to logging, mining and energy interests.
The wilderness, which covers an area bigger than the whole of Great Britain, was placed beyond the reach of developers or any mechanical vehicle by one of President Clinton’s final acts in office.
But Mr Bush has taken the potentially far-reaching decision to allow roadbuilding in the huge tracts of land, which account for a third of America’s national forests.
The Administration argues that giving greater access to the untouched land will allow the US Forest Service to reduce the risk of wildfires by better maintaining the woodlands. Roads into the remote areas would also provide access for firefighters to fight blazes.
The wilderness, which covers an area bigger than the whole of Great Britain, was placed beyond the reach of developers or any mechanical vehicle by one of President Clinton’s final acts in office.
But Mr Bush has taken the potentially far-reaching decision to allow roadbuilding in the huge tracts of land, which account for a third of America’s national forests.
The Administration argues that giving greater access to the untouched land will allow the US Forest Service to reduce the risk of wildfires by better maintaining the woodlands. Roads into the remote areas would also provide access for firefighters to fight blazes.
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