Dominick [WWF] just returned from another
round of meetings with the Forest EIS team and
others in Washington, DC.
Over this year, the first priority of the Forest
Service is to obtain the scientific support necessary
to craft sound management policies for the larger
inventories (RARE II) roadless areas. This is a
very fast turn-around for anyone and the
agency is just not prepared to carry it out alone.
[T]he Forest Service is very eager to sign a
MOU as soon as possible. [. . .] The essence of the
MOU is for WWF, CBI and the Forest Service to
work together to create a sound science-based
roadless area assessment.
Forest Service officials expressed interest in having
us participate with them and a number of other
federal agencies in creating a comprehensive
National Biodiversity Strategy.
These new developments make this better than we
ever dreamed. We have a huge opportunity to
influence the Forest Service and perhaps other
agencies to move progressively on the roadless area
issues and perhaps others. Please keep this
information confidential for if it leaks out, it
could damage the first most delicate stage of the
process.
We therefore request $650,000 from the Packard
Foundation.
