Although the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) did not pass this year, 315 members of the House of Representatives and 63 senators supported the $3 billion legislation. Members of Congress from the Northeast were incredibly supportive of CARA, and they deserve recognition for their votes and numerous letters of support. In fact, it was the overwhelming support for CARA that led to the passage of a year-end legislative deal that will bring $12 billion to conservation throughout the next six years. It isn't CARA; however, it is a great improvement over the funding levels that we have had in the past. Thank your congressional members who supported CARA. It's important to let your legislators know that you appreciate their votes and support. The representatives who were responsible for passing CARA in the House in May deserve special applause.

* See if your representative and senators supported CARA at http://www.outdoors.org/Conservation/ and if they did, send them a note online to let them know how much you appreciate their support for increased conservation funding.

On Nov.13, the Forest Service released its final version of a plan to ban road building in millions of acres of national forests. President Clinton is expected to approve the measure before late December. Under the plan, nearly 30 percent of the national forests, 58.5 million acres altogether, would be placed off limits to new road-building and most commercial logging. This would include the 9.3 million acres of Alaska's Tongass National Forest that will come under protection in 2004. The White Mountain National Forest has 45,000 acres that will receive greater protection through the new roadless policy, reducing the acreage available for harvesting by 13 percent. This new plan would not be as strong as it is without the 1.6 million comments from concerned Americans nationwide.

After receiving a go-ahead from the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs last March, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management is proceeding with the Greylock Center development in Adams, Mass. The proposal includes an environmental education center, 18-hole golf course, 200-room hotel conference center, and 300 residential units to be built on state-owned land bordering the Mount Greylock State Reservation in western Massachusetts. Last month, DEM released the Land Disposition Agreement and Master Lease, outlining the contract between the state and Greylock Management Associates (GMA). This document, available for public comment, has multiple problems. It does not identify the source of public dollars. The DEM guarantees that private housing, the most controversial aspect of this project, will be built on this site, regardless of market demand. The public will pay for the golf course construction and then it will be handed over to GMA, which has the option of running a "member-only" facility. In return, they only have to pay $1 per year for the first five years of operation.

* Visit http://www.outdoors.org/Conservation/ to learn more and send a letter online to Commissioner Peter Webber telling him that the Greylock Center proposal (EOEA #11083) is an inappropriate use of taxpayer money. Public funds should not subsidize private development in this environmentally sensitive area when opportunities for redeveloping Adams' downtown are abundant.

* Write Commissioner Peter Webber, DEM, 251 Causeway, Boston MA 02114 or email: peter.webber@state.ma.us, before the Dec. 28 deadline.

From Dec. 6 to Jan. 24, the New Jersey State Planning Commission will hold 21 hearings on the Draft Final State Plan, which will designate the New Jersey Highlands as a "Special Resource Area" in order to foster protection for the region's critical resources. The Highlands region stretches from eastern Pennsylvania through New Jersey and New York to northwestern Connecticut. These forests supply clean drinking water for more than half of New Jersey's population, and protect major water supply watersheds for New York City. This region contains streams in which native trout breed, and its forests are home to black bear, river otters, and bobcat. Its forested ridges provide critical migration corridors and breeding habitat for over 70 species of songbirds. Rampant suburban sprawl is destroying contiguous forests and wildlife habitat. Irresponsible development is degrading reservoirs and drinking water wells, turning cornfields into condos, and ruining recreational, historic, and scenic resources. The State Plan will provide the direction and vision necessary to preserve this area, properly manage the land uses within it, and set a course for effective action.

* Join others in the quest to protect the Highlands' critical resources. Attend hearings hosted by the New Jersey State Planning Commission.

* For more information, and the schedule of hearings, visit www.highlandscoalition.org, or contact Tom Gilbert, AMC' Mid-Atlantic Land Advocate at 609-818-1776.

In the heart of Maine's North Woods, 656,000 acres of forestland surrounding the West Branch of the Penobscot River are available for protection this year. Within the borders of the West Branch lands reside threatened and endangered plant and animal populations, three rare old-growth stands, dozens of remote ponds and lakes, and hundreds of miles of undeveloped shoreline. Another immediate conservation need has surfaced in the western mountains of Maine, at Tumbledown Mountain. This area contains hiking trails, alpine scenery, critical wildlife habitat, rare plant communities, and high elevation ponds. Development and subdivision is an immediate threat to this favorite hiking destination. The Federal Forest Legacy program has $60 million to spend in 2001 -- $30 million is needed to protect the West Branch of the Penobscot River and Tumbledown Mountain for future generations. Your voice of support for the West Branch and Tumbledown Mountain projects is needed.

* Visit http://www.outdoors.org/Conservation/ to learn more about these beautiful places and send an e-mail to Jim Lyons, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and ask that the West Branch and Tumbledown Mountain projects receive $30 million in FY2001 Forest Legacy funds. Or call him at 202-720-7173.