Your voice is needed to help ensure funding to protect threatened forests throughout the Northeast. Congress will soon decide on funding for the Forest Legacy Program, which helps protect thousands of acres of private forests in the Northern Forest and Central Appalachian Highlands region each year. Currently, the United States loses more than half a million acres of privately owned timberland to development each year. The Forest Legacy Program is designed to support conservation in partnership with private landowners by providing grants to states to purchase development rights. It benefits the public by protecting recreational access, water resources, and wildlife habitat while making sure forests in the program are sustainably managed. Thanks to many letters and phone calls, Congress approved a record $65 million for Forest Legacy last year. This year, at least $100 million is needed to protect the forests that benefit us all. Your letters of support are needed again!

TAKE ACTION

Let your members of Congress know that protecting these undeveloped landscapes is important to you at http://ga0.org/ct/N1asSR41jqJi/Forest_Legacy.

Our state forests and parks matter more today then ever before. Pay a visit to your local state forest or park and you'll remember how valuable they are for clean water, quiet hikes and natural habitat. State parks and forests are critical for protecting natural resources and quiet recreation opportunities but don't have the high profile of large national parks and national forests. More than ever these quiet forests close to our homes are losing ground to lack of funding, inadequate staffing and non-traditional uses like off-road vehicles. As state budgets shrink, so do the funds needed for the upkeep and protection of state lands. Even worse, some states are even looking to commercially develop these public lands to raise revenue. Let your governor know how much you care about your state's forests and parks.

Ask your state to recommit to these places that improve our quality of life by emailing your governor asking him or her to make a commitment to protect and fund your state forests and parks at http://ga0.org/ct/MpasSR41jqJ8/State_Parks.

From the Housatonics to the Ramapos to the Reading Prong, the Highlands region of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut forms a critical greenbelt around the sprawling metropolitan region. Forested watersheds and reservoirs provide clean drinking water to more than 11 million residents, and more than 200,000 acres of public open space host more than 9 million recreational visits annually. The region also provides critical wildlife habitat for migratory songbirds and species such as black bear, bobcat, beaver, otter, and trout. Unfortunately, the Highlands' forests and waters are severely threatened by suburban sprawl and industrial development. Fortunately, there's something we can do about it. Having identified the Highlands as a "landscape of national significance," the US Forest Service will release an updated report on the state of the Highlands region this month, and two upcoming listening sessions will give you a forum to comment on the report. Soon after the draft report is released you can also make your comments directly to the Forest Service and your elected officials through AMC's Conservation Action Network, so please stay tuned.

-Attend one of two meetings to learn about the Highlands and the draft Forest Service report: April 8 from 7-9 PM at the Bear Mountain Inn, NY or April 9 from 7-9 PM at Lehigh University, PA.

-Speak at one of two official public listening sessions held by the US Forest Service in the Highlands region: April 22 in Morristown, NJ and April 23 in Ramapo, NY.

For more information on how you can participate contact AMC's Highlands outreach coordinator, Richard Whiteford at 609-818-0400 or e-mail savebios@earthlink.net.

The New Hampshire House of Representatives passed a bill in March that would open up more state-owned forests and parks to off-road vehicles (ORVs) such as dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). It is now up to the NH Senate and Governor Shaheen to decide if New Hampshire's forests and parks are appropriate for ORVs which can cause substantial erosion, air pollution, stress wildlife, and are often in conflict with non-motorized users. In a related development, a comment period will soon end on allowing ORVs onto Nash Stream State Forest, a remote mountain area north of the White Mountains. Nash Stream had been off-limits to ORVs after the state protected this area from future development, but now proposes to allow ORV on this state forest. Due to rising numbers of ORVs in NH, policing illegal ORV use and preventing damage caused by them has become increasingly challenging for the state's land managers, especially given the shortage of funds for that purpose. ORV abuse threatens the ecological integrity of the land and the safety of the state's residents and visitors. If you don't think off-road vehicles belong on state forests and parks speak out today!

-Voice your own concerns at an upcoming hearing in the NH Senate on Tuesday, April 9 at 9:30 AM in Concord. Contact AMC's Conservation Outreach Coordinator Bryan Wentzell if you are interested in attending (617-523-0655 ext. 386 or bwentzell@amcinfo.org).

-Help demonstrate that NH residents are opposed to more ORV trails in Forests and Parks by signing a petition to keep dirtbikes, ATVs and other off-road vehicles out of NH Forests and Parks. Call or e-mail Bryan Wentzell (contact information above) to receive a copy of the petition.

-Send an e-mail to your state senator and the State Forester to express your concerns about ORVs on state lands, and particularly on Nash Stream State Forest at: http://ga0.org/ct/M7asSR41jqJn/NH_ORVs

5. Earth Day and Regional Events Near You (MA, NJ, DC)

With Earth Day coming up on April 22 make sure you get out to appreciate and give back to the planet that sustains us! Here are some ideas, but keep an eye on your local or regional paper for more fun events. You can also check out the Earth Day Network's web site for events worldwide at http://www.earthday.net/events/events-us.stm

Charles River Cleanup, Boston, MA area - Saturday, April 20

From Boston to Bellingham, join over 1,000 volunteers to improve the health and beauty of this landmark river in the 3rd annual cleanup day. To find out more or to participate, contact Pattie Weikert of Massachusetts Community Water Watch at (617) 747-4409, (617) 879-7735, or cleanup02@hotmail.com.

The seventh annual Ramapo River Watershed Conference will be held at Ramapo College of New Jersey on Friday, April 26, 2002. The theme for the 2002 conference will be the geology of the 163 square-mile watershed with a particular focus on the sand and gravel valley-fill Ramapo/Mahwah Aquifer that is the heart of the federally listed Sole Source Aquifer area. The Ramapo/Mahwah aquifer supplies water to Rockland County New York, and Mahwah, Oakland, Ramsey and Pompton Lakes New Jersey. For registration or more information please contact Geoff Welch of the Ramapo River Committee at gwelch1@optonline.net (854) 753-5634 Natural Trails and Waters Lobby Week, Washington, DC

The Natural Trails and Waters Coalition invites you to Washington, DC April 27 - May 1 to protect public lands from the damage caused by dirt bikes, ATVs, snowmobiles, and jet skis. The week will begin with a day of ORV issue briefings on Saturday April 27. This will be followed by lobby training sessions on April 28 and meetings on Capitol Hill April 29-May 1. To participate in the lobby week please contact Alix Davidson at adavidson@americanlands.org or 202-547-5974.