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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE – October 12, 2005
Contact: Jeff Kuyper,
ForestWatch (805) 252-4277
Jake Kreilick, NFPA
(406) 829-6353
New Report Declares Los Padres One
of Nation’s Most Endangered Forests
Oil Drilling
and Off-Road Vehicle Abuse
are Forest’s Biggest Threats
The National Forest Protection
Alliance today released a report highlighting the twelve most
endangered forests in the country. The report – titled
America’s Most Endangered Forests – features the nearby Los
Padres National Forest, and cites oil drilling and unlawful
off-road vehicle abuse as the two biggest threats to forest
ecosystems and recreation opportunities here.
The report comes on the heels of a
new management plan for the Los Padres, approved two weeks ago,
that will open more of the forest to development. Earlier this
summer, the Forest Service allowed oil drilling to expand across
52,075 acres of the forest.
“The Los Padres is one of our
country’s most spectacular national forests, and now it has also
become one of our most endangered,” said Jeff Kuyper, executive
director of the nonprofit watchdog organization Los Padres
ForestWatch. “This administration is opening up our public lands
to oil companies and industrial recreation interests, and we as
a community need to take charge and say enough is enough.”
 
The report highlights the three
biggest threats to the Los Padres – expanded oil drilling,
unlawful off-road vehicle abuse, and excessive livestock
grazing.
Oil Drilling: The
Forest Service recently allowed oil drilling to expand on 52,075
acres of the national forest. Oil drilling threatens a sanctuary
for the endangered California condor, a wildlife refuge, four
wilderness areas, and a host of popular hiking trails and
camps. The Forest Service estimates the new drilling would
produce less than one day’s supply of oil for the nation. The
California Attorney General’s office joined three conservation
groups – led by ForestWatch – in appealing this decision.
Off-Road Vehicle Abuse:
The
proliferation of off-road vehicle (ORV) routes in the Los Padres
has damaged cultural sites, eroded hillsides, and choked
waterways with sediment. The agency’s new management plan would
open up 74% of the forest’s pristine, roadless areas to new road
construction, and would allow ORV trails to expand into these
sensitive areas. The plan predicts a 20% increase in ORV use on
the Los Padres in the next decade.
Excessive Livestock
Grazing:
Nearly half of the Los Padres is open for
livestock grazing. Excessive livestock grazing frequently
destroys streamside areas, tramples plants and compacts soils,
degrades water quality, and spreads invasive weeds. The agency
recently approved a plan that would open nearly 25,000 acres of
the world-famous Big Sur coastline to excessive livestock
grazing, threatening habitat for the endangered Smith’s blue
butterfly and steelhead trout. And the agency has failed to
conduct environmental reviews on most of the 107 grazing
allotments on the forest, in violation of the National
Environmental Policy Act.
“This report serves as a wakeup
call – this administration’s failed policies are bringing ruin
to our very own national forest. Those of us who love and value
the Los Padres must seek out new ways to protect the forest from
environmental damage,” said Kuyper.
ForestWatch will continue to
encourage a positive vision for strong protection of the Los
Padres National Forest and the communities that depend on its
clean water, wildlife habitat, and diverse recreation
opportunities.
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