FORESTS

Defending Our Forests:
Building a Jewish Movement

It is no coincidence that Jews are playing a prominent role in forest preservation. The Tree of Life is one of Judaism's most powerful images-symbolizing the interconnected nature of Creation, the Torah (our most cherished inheritance), and the Divine. And planting trees has been a widely observed Jewish practice, particularly in this century.

Jews who have been playing a leadership role in protecting forests include: Heritage Forest campaign director Ken Rait, urban forestry pioneer Andy Lipkis, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, Home Depot CEOs Bernard Marcus and Arthur Blank, Save America's Forests director Carl Ross, Assistant Attorney General Lois Schiffer, and Senators Barbara Boxer, Frank Lautenberg, and Joseph Lieberman.

On Tu B'Shvat (the Jewish New Year of Trees), COEJL invites all Jewish individuals and institutions to join the movement to defend the forests proudly and publicly as Jews.

Judaism teaches that we have a sacred obligation to the Creator, to Creation, and to future generations to safeguard and protect Earth's ecosystems.

May we embody these teachings in our actions as individuals, in our synagogues and schools, and in our workplaces. And may we have the courage to organize around these teachings so that our society, through its public institutions and private businesses, defends and restores, rather than degrades, Creation.

Only a Remnant Remains

The majestic ancient forests that once covered our continent have been reduced to a small remnant. The United States has already lost 96% of its old growth forests. The wild forests that remain are refuges for thousands of threatened creatures and plants, and are vital to the protection of clean water sources for tens of millions of North Americans.

Wild forests also serve as refuges for the human spirit, places where we can witness the Creator's majesty, reflect upon the mystery of life, and hear the small, still voice within. While generations past took these experiences for granted, how many people alive today have ever stood in an ancient forest?

• Only 20% of the world's old growth forests remain intact.
• Every year, at least 16 million additional hectares fall to the ax, torch, bulldozer, or chain saw.
• Over 377,810 miles of roads -- enough to circle the Earth 15 times - crisscross the U.S. national forests.
• 25% of mammals, 20% of reptiles, 25% of amphibians, and 34% of fish are in danger of extinction. The destruction of forests is a leading cause.
• The average American's appetite for paper products has nearly tripled in three decades--to 700 pounds annually.
• We have the technology to reduce our wood consumption by 75-90%.

COEJL's Position on Protecting Forests

Our religious heritage calls on us to serve as protectors and defenders of God's magnificent creations. In a brief moment in the life of our planet, we have destroyed all but a remnant of the ancient forests. It is our duty--as people of faith, and citizens of our nation, our world, and our biosphere--to safeguard and weave together this patchwork of remnants as best we can as our legacy for generations to come.

In order to fulfill this obligation, COEJL believes that the federal government should establish a system of interconnected, strictly protected biological preserves on land, in fresh water, and in the sea.

COEJL believes that public lands should be managed to preserve and restore biological diversity, and that government should not subsidize logging, mining, or grazing on public lands. Furthermore, we believe such activities should be immediately suspended in all old-growth forests and other threatened habitats on public lands.

The protection of roadless areas is a necessary step in achieving these objectives. COEJL has actively supported the end of logging in roadless areas in national forests, the end of subsidies for road-building in national forests, and strict enforcement of the Endangered Species Act to protect endangered forest habitats on both public and private lands.