Forests Forever Action Alerts
Debt-for-Nature
Exchange to Save Headwaters:
Now it's up to the Clinton administration
Posted
11/22/96
The decade-long struggle to save Headwaters Forest, the largest
unprotected redwood Wilderness in the world, has reached a critical
new stage.
Permanent
preservation for Headwaters Forest is within reach, but time is
of the essence. Recent court victories by EPIC have provided temporary
protection to the ancient groves. On Mar. 5, 1996, the California
Board of Forestry (BOF) agreed with its staff and denied Pacific
Lumber Company's (PL's) request to cut an eight-acre road into the
heart of the pristine Headwaters Grove. This decision marked only
the third time in 10 years that the BOF has upheld the denial of
a Timber Harvest Plan (THP). Cities and counties across California--
including LA and San Francisco-- have adopted resolutions calling
for preservation of Headwaters.
It is critical that Californians send a clear, strong message to
President Clinton that we are counting on his leadership in this
election year to save Headwaters Forest. He has the power to take
the necessary action and he has stated that he is supportive. Now
we must convince him to act.
Specifically, President Clinton must demonstrate leadership in promoting negotiations for public acquisition of the forest. Any logging in the 57,000-acre Headwaters Forest Complex jeopardizes habitat critical to endangered or threatened old-growth-dependent species such as the Marbled Murrelet, salmon, and the Northern Spotted Owl. Clinton must act to prevent any further degradation of this habitat and to protect the priceless assets of Headwaters Forest while negotiations are underway.
The President also must support and promote the acquisition of Headwaters Forest Complex via a Debt-for-Nature exchange. Under this innovative plan, Headwaters would be acquired by the government in partial repayment for the $1.6 billion taxpayer bailout of a Texas S&L controlled by corporate raider Charles Hurwitz, which collapsed in 1988. PL's parent company, MAXXAM Corp. of Houston, Tex., and its CEO, Hurwitz, have been sued by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the U.S. Office of Thrift Supervision in connection with Hurwitz' destabilization of the Texas thrift in order to finance the takeover of PL. Both agencies have stated their willingness to consider a Debt-for-Nature exchange in settlement of all or part of their claims. Viewed from this perspective the American people already own Headwaters-- we effectively purchased it when our tax dollars bailed out Hurwitz' bankrupt S&L.
Further, it is vital that Clinton insure preservation of the entire Headwaters Forest Complex, which includes some six ancient groves occupied by the Murrelet and other threatened species.
What you Can Do:
Call or write President Clinton and tell him it is time for him to act on behalf of Headwaters Forest by taking an active role in promoting negotiations to save Headwaters, in preventing any further logging in the Headwaters Forest Complex while negotiations proceed, by advocating strongly for a Debt-for-Nature exchange, and by insuring permanent protection for the entire 57,000-acre Complex.
President
Bill Clinton
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
202-456-1111 phone
202-456-2461 FAX
president@whitehouse.gov
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