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Educate and activate—Students
can make a difference!
By Jeanette Russell, National Forest Protection Alliance
(NFPA)
There are many things that students can do to impact the
direction of public land protection and the world at large.
When students are focused and informed, they can influence
the political climate on campus, within their community, and
beyond.
It is critical for students—and all citizens—to
realize the effects they can have by choosing to get involved,
or not to get involved and realize why it is so important
to get involved NOW.
We are moving through one of the most critical periods of
human history. Everyday more people are making choices—personal,
as well as political—that are leading us to create a
balanced, healthy and enlightened world. At the same time,
our ecosystems are unraveling at such a fast rate that we
find ourselves in the midst of the greatest extinction crisis
since the dinosaurs.
The choice is ours. Much will depend on our response and
commitment as individuals and as a society. Protecting our
nation's public lands from commercial logging—and all
exploitation—is a key step in bringing us closer to a
brighter future.
Reclaiming our public lands from corporate interests not
only protects our last ecological strongholds, but sends a
strong message to decision makers and people around the world
that we simply will not allow our environment to be sacrificed
to increase the corporate bottomline.
10 Way You Can Make Protecting National Forests from Commercial
Logging an Issue on Your Campus and in Your Community:
- LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION—Organize a showing
of a video about protecting national forests from commercial
logging for the campus and community. After the video let
the audience know how they can get—and stay—involved.
NFPA has videos available.
- BE SEEN AND HEARD—Hold a "Protect Public
Lands from Commercial Logging" campaign kick-off rally.
Ask a local conservation leader to speak on the issue and
how it relates to your community.
- MEDIA EXPOSURE—Newspapers and radio and television
stations are always looking to cover issues with strong
public support. Writing letters to the editor is an incredibly
effective way to build campus and community support. (see
grassroots media guide available on this website).
- WEEKLY METTINGS—Hold weekly student meetings
on campus and identify monthly action goals (NFPA staff
would be happy to work with you on this). Always have an
on-going recruitment effort to build your group.
- EDUCATION TABLE—This is one of the most effective
ways to make forest protection an issue on your campus and
in your community. The purpose of tabling is to educate
students and community members about issues, distribute
information, and recruit new supporters.
- GET POLITICAL—Contact your elected officials
and educate them about the need to protect and restore America's
national forests. Let elected officials knows that protecting
America’s public lands is no longer an issue they can
afford to place on the back burner.
- EXPAND THE CIRCLE—Ask local newspapers, organizations,
businesses, and churches to endorse the protection of America's
national forests from commercial logging. NFPA has endorsement
forms available.
- ACT LOCALLY—Find out what is happening on
your local national forests and get involved with local
forest protection organizations.
- OPERATION CLASSROOM—Educate your professors
and classmates about protecting America’s national
forests. This is especially fun if you are taking a forestry
class! Got an English term paper to write? Heck, write about
protecting national forests from logging.
- EARN CREDIT—Most universities offer internships
or independent study programs where you can earn college
credit for organizing your campus around forest protection.
NFPA can help you find a local sponsor or may directly sponsor
your studies. NFPA also offers forest protection internships
across the nation.
To order your Student Starter Kit, which includes everything
you will need to begin making national forest protection an
issue on your campus, contact the National
Forest Protection Alliance, P.O. Box 8264, Missoula, MT
59807, 406-542-7565, nfpa@wildrockies.org
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