289 



3 



1 rare, threatened, and endangered species of plants 



2 and wildlife; further destruction and diminution of 



3 the forest can only accelerate the extirpation or ex- 



4 tinction of said species. 



5 (7) The ancient forests of the Sequoia and Si- 



6 erra National Forests can and do provide outstand- 



7 ing and unique recreational opportunities for our 



8 Nation's people. 



9 (8) The ancient forests of the Sequoia and Si- 



10 erra National Forests retain and release water, thus 



11 guaranteeing a steady and assured supply of clean, 



12 high-quality water for agricultural, industrial, mu- 



13 nicipal, animal, environmental, and recreational pur- 



14 poses. 



15 (9) The most valuable aspect of the Sequoia 



16 and Sierra National Forests is their intact, natural 



17 ecosystems, which have developed over tens of thou- 



18 sands of years; such ecosystems are not renewable 



19 for many centuries after lo^ng, if at all. 



20 (10) The policy of the United States Forest 



21 Service has been to encoureige lo^ng of ancient for- 



22 est habitats, including that of the Giant Sequoias. 



23 (11) At the current rate of logging in the Se- 



24 quoia National Forest, it is estimated that all of the 



>HR S15S IH 



