VERMONT-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL NON-PROFIT AND INTERNET LIFESTYLE PORTAL ENCOURAGE DIGITAL ACTIVISM

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TO ENVIRONMENT EDITORS:

VERMONT-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL NON-PROFIT AND INTERNET LIFESTYLE PORTAL ENCOURAGE DIGITAL ACTIVISM

CANADA, ONTARIO, BURLINGTON, Apr. 20 -/E-Wire/-- Forest Watch, a non-profit environmental advocacy organization, and naturalist.com, an online network for nature and natural health enthusiasts, have joined forces to provide a simple means for citizens to take action on pressing environmental issues. In the spirit of Earth Day 2001, Forest Watch and naturalist.com collaborated on a digital activism campaign that planted the seed for a new naturalist.com site feature. The feature provides simple ways for naturalist.com members and site visitors to take action and contribute to positive change on current environmental issues.

The focus of the current action alert, available online at http://www.forestwatch.org/bush_roadless.php3, is the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. President Clinton announced approval of a final "rule" (a federal regulation with the force of law) on national forest roadless area conservation on January 5, 2001. This came after several years of study and an immense public involvement effort, which included 600 public meetings and resulted in more than one and one-half million public comments.

Environmentalists and editors from major newspapers across the nation praised Clinton's decision. It was regarded as one of the most profound and visionary acts of land protection since Teddy Roosevelt carved the nation's original forest reserves out of the public domain to keep them from being acquired and exploited by private businesses and individuals. Forest Watch, like hundreds of environmental groups across the country, fears that the Bush Administration will attempt to reverse the rule pending a legal decision in May.

"If citizens don't speak out now to protect and restore our nation's wild forests, we may never have the chance to do so again," said Andrew Vota, Forest Watch Advocacy Director. "Digital advocacy provides a good way for busy people to get informed and involved, quickly and efficiently. It brings the power of the ballot box to the home computer, strengthening our democracy and protecting our environment."

"Working with environmental organizations dedicated to preserving natural resources enables us to not only inform naturalist.com members and visitors about current environmental affairs, but most importantly provides a simple means to take action," said Mike McCarney naturalist.com VP of Ecotravel. "Forest Watch's activist network creates positive change in land management that is not only a benefit for those of us who like to backcountry snowboard or paddle along undeveloped shores, but also a benefit to the intricate web of life that supports natural undisturbed places."

About Forest Watch Forest Watch is a young, energetic, knowledgeable, non-profit environmental organization based in Vermont that works to save and re-create wild forests, reform public land management, protect imperiled species, and promote ecological forestry. Forest Watch, like many other organizations across the country, is on the front lines, defending scarce and precious wild places from road building, logging, mining and compassionate conservatives.

About naturalist.com and Wilderness Web Naturalist.com is a comprehensive family of web sites tailored to the interests and needs of consumers and businesses in the "healthy living" market. Naturalist.com helps consumers lead a more environmentally conscious lifestyle and stay informed on world environmental issues. Wilderness Web, the travel channel of naturalist.com, connects the active ecotraveler to the appropriate local guide, outfitter and accommodations. On WildernessWeb.com a traveler can research a wide selection of eco-trips, wilderness adventures and unique travel opportunities.

http://www.forestwatch.org/bush_roadless.php3

http://www.naturalist.com

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