Published: May 21, 2008

Wilderness Society Applauds Boxer, Warner,Lieberman for Climate Legislation

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Adaptation Funding Critical for Nation's Wild Public Lands

Washington, D.C. - The Wilderness Society (TWS) today applauded critical legislation introduced by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), and John Warner (R-VA) to protect human communities and the ecologically diverse habitats they rely on for clean water, pure air and myriad other resources from the impacts of global warming.

"These Senate leaders deserve thanks and commendation for their leadership on this issue. We look forward to working with the full Senate to ensure passage of this landmark legislation, including provisions that would devote allowance revenues to help public lands adapt to global warming," said David Moulton, Senior Climate Policy Advisor at TWS.

"We are in a race with time to protect human health by preserving the biodiversity found in our national parks, forests, wilderness areas, and wildlife refuges," said Wilderness Society President William H. Meadows.

"The Senate is on the threshold of what should be one of the great debates of our generation. We are grateful for the leadership of Chairman Boxer and Senators Lieberman and Warner in bringing forward a bill that would cut the emissions of heat-trapping gases and also boost the resources needed to help communities and ecological systems adapt to a warming climate. Now it is time for the rest of the Senate to step up to this urgent challenge."

This legislation holds real promise for helping some of America's most environmentally sensitive, much-loved public lands adapt to global warming. Global warming poses an unprecedented threat to the ecological integrity of the nation's national parks, forests, wilderness areas and wildlife refuges and to the plants, animals and people who rely on them. By providing funds to help wild lands adapt to this threat, S. 2191 recognizes the critical importance of protecting America's public lands in a warming world.

"Without our nation's public lands to provide shelter for wildlife, filtration for water and space of ecological adaptation, the United States could face serious challenges in the face of global warming," said Moulton "The debate now about to begin in the Senate will define our generation, and the world future generations will inherit. As Americans who share in collective ownership of more than 623 million acres of public wildlands, we can rise to meet this challenge."

The Wilderness Society

The Wilderness Society's mission is to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places.