WASHINGTON – Scenic America, a national scenic conservation organization, is now accepting nominations for its 2002 Last Chance Landscapes program. These endangered landscapes are places of beauty or distinctive community character with both a pending threat and a potential solution. Nominations are due by June 1, 2002.

“Change is inevitable, but ugliness is not,” said Scenic America’s President Meg Maguire. “Unless we reverse course, many of the landscapes and communities we love will be buried in this decade under billboards, cell towers, huge roads, and strip malls.”

A Last Chance Landscape can be a scenic vista, a distinct region, an urban neighborhood, or some other place people cherish and want to preserve. Scenic America will judge nominations on the scenic quality and/or distinct character of the area, the extent and urgency of the threat, and the opportunities to save the landscape.

“Often we look around our communities and countryside and ask ‘How did this happen?’” said Maguire. “The challenge is to take action before it’s too late to protect scenic landscapes, save open space, preserve community character, and ensure a better quality of life for future generations.”

Last Chance Landscape nomination forms are available at Scenic America’s Web site (www.scenic.org) or by calling Scenic America at (202) 543-6200, extension 18. There is no fee to submit a nomination.