There is a fair amount of dismay out there over about the recently finalized commercial timber sale in a roadless area of the Tongass National Forest.  (See, for example, posts at the Huffington Post and U.S. News and World Report.)  People are asking why the Obama administration is approving logging in roadless National Forest lands. 

As my colleague Franz Matzner explains, this sale does not technically violate the 2001 Roadless Rule.  However, it is a troubling move when several other Tongass timber sales that would violate the rule are in the works, and the administration has yet to publicly embrace the 2001 rule.

We continue to publicly urge the President to take the final steps to uphold the 2001 Roadless Rule in National Forests across the country.  As it happens, the Tongass, the subject of particular attention this week, is also stellar example of why it is so important for the President to act quicky and save what's left nationwide.  This video adds some perspective.