"NREPA (Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act) is visionary not only in size, scope and spirit but in that it focuses on the science of conservation biology — ecosystems, watersheds and science, not arbitrary political boundaries and partisan politics."
-Cynthia Sewell, Boise Weekly, Sept. 2004

Based on sound biological and economic science, the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act is an ecosystem approach to protecting and restoring the U.S. Northern Rockies bioregion. When enacted, it will protect almost 20 million acres of intact wild lands that provide essential habitat to countless species of plants, animals, fish, birds and insects, as well as to people who depend on the wild and majestic Northern Rockies for their economic and spiritual well-being.

This bill seeks to protect the heart of Wild America, the Northern Rockies, including the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Greater Glacier Ecosystem, the Greater Salmon-Selway Ecosystem, and the Greater Cabinet/Yaak/Selkirk Ecosystem. This area supports the most diverse array of intact wildlands left in our nation.

Protection measures include designation of Wilderness Areas, Biological Connecting Corridors, Wild & Scenic Rivers, as well as a National Wildland Restoration and Recovery Zone.

Many of these new wilderness areas are currently roadless areas, only partially protected and subject to political whim and rule-making. Many roadless areas remain uninventoried after arbitrary omission during the RARE (Roadless Area Review and Evaluation) 1 and RARE 2 processes, which occurred in 1971-73 and 1979, respectively. NREPA would protect both inventoried and uninventoried roadless country in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, and Washington.

The bill, H.R. 1204, had 187 co-sponsors from both parties in the House during the 109th Congress. It was introduced by Representatives Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY). Shays was one of few successful New England Republican incumbents this past November.

"The bill has always had a strong economic component," says Carole King, who has championed NREPA, since its inception. "NREPA highlights that component. Restoration means immediate jobs, and NREPA will save taxpayers $245 million over the next decade." According to a 2003 report by economist Michael Garrity, NREPA would be the most cost effective way to preserve threatened and endangered species in the Northern Rockies.

This cutting-edge environmental bill is expected to create 2300 new jobs. In addition to its economic benefits, the ecosystem connectivity provided by NREPA will help to mitigate the effects of global warming on some species. By giving species space to move and adapt, this increased connectivity between populations could postpone or in some cases even prevent loss of sensitive species.

For more information on NREPA, its current status (about to be re-introduced into the House), or to request a copy of "Beyond Borders," the award-winning film portraying the vision for wildland protection in the Northern Rockies, contact the Alliance for the Wild Rockies or the NREPA Network through their websites, wildrockiesalliance.org and nrepanetwork.org.