The story of how the Audubon Society, using $2.2 million in grants from the Pew Charitable Trust, manipulated and orchestrated the appearance of public opinion to convince President Clinton to administratively withdraw an additional 40,000,000 acres of National Forest lands from activities other than hiking and contemplation. The accounts below are in Audubon's own words, from the minutes of the Board of Directors' Annual Meeting last September. The source of these extracts is: http://www.audubon.org/chapter/ca/santamonicabay/brew_10.htm#Heritage Forest Campaign

>From Nat. Audubon Society Board Meeting, Brewster MA Sept.17-18, 1999

Conservation Update from Dan Beard — Heritage Forest Campaign:

There are 60 million acres of 1000 acre-plus plots in our National Forests that are still roadless. There is no hope of congressional action to preserve them as wilderness. Administrative protection is possible. We have raised the issue's visibility in the White House, but it's not enough. So we did a poll, using the president's pollster. He sent results to White House chief of staff. The poll shows that Americans, strongly, care about wilderness to the extent of favoring it over jobs. Even Republican men in intermountain states support it at the 50% level. The administration has said they will take some kind of action. We hope for an announcement from the president of some kind of administrative protection. We probably won't get all 60 million acres, but if we did it would represent the biggest chunk of land protection since the Alaska Lands Act.

The Pew Trust is pleased with the campaign so far. 2nd year funding will take it to January 2001: $2.2 million for about 12 organizations under our supervision. Outside Magazine this month has a good cover article. Our visibility and credibility among fellow forest protection organizations has been raised. (comment from John Flicker - this grant came to us because of Dan Beard's reputation and good name.)

We had an email and letter writing campaign: there were about 200,000 responses; about 170K came from banners placed on services such as Juno; 25K came direct from environmental groups; NAS sent in 3K.

On this issue there is a lot of looking for leadership: I like it but let someone else go first. In Congress reaction we got a letter of support signed by 170 members; there is some senate support [40?]. The leadership knows roadless vote would now win, so they won't bring it to a vote.

>From the Public Policy Committee — Heritage Forest Campaign:

This campaign has had a tremendous year. Nearly 500,000 comments have been sent into the Administration through postcards, internet outreach, and petitions. The Campaign generated a sign-on letter to Vice President Al Gore with more than 450 conservation organizations, 230 scientists, and 40 religious organizations. Separately, a "faith" sign on letter has generated the support of more than 200 clergy members.

The Campaign has generated more than three dozen editorials using the campaign materials. In addition there have been more than 80 articles generated in daily and weekly print and electronic media related to roadless area protection. Over a dozen guest opinion editorials have been published in daily newspapers.

The effort to save roadless areas has also generated support on Capitol Hill. The Campaign worked with Representatives Horn and Hinchey to circulate a congressional sign-on letter supporting a strong roadless area protection policy as an outcome of the Administration's policy making initiative. This letter was submitted with 168 co-signers.

The result of all this effort has been to convince the Administration to broaden the Forest Service's roads policy to include protection of roadless areas. Meetings with the White House staff indicate that a major announcement by the President could take place this fall.