The last-minute, Clinton-imposed, 55-million-plus-acre forest wilderness roadless rule was done with little consideration by the people who live near those lands. The recent Bush reversal, allowing governors elected by the people to have input on forest management, is a good balance between the federal and state governance of our lives.
The reversal is also good for wildlife habitat restoration. The dramatic invasion of conifer and pinion/juniper trees on western landscapes, whose natural reversal has been altered through fire suppression, invasive non-native plant species and other man-made actions, can only be altered or restored to the natural state through mechanical treatments. The mechanical treatments cannot be accomplished if forest areas are roadless. There are many areas in Wayne County that the professional land managers and wildlife biologists want to treat to improve watersheds and wildlife habitat, yet are prevented by the current roadless mandate.
The most disappointing part of the story is how polarized the media reports all events. The headlines Bush sells out to loggers is completely inaccurate and oversimplified.
A reporter called the other day and asked, What is the conspiracy behind the Wilcox Ranch acquisition you were involved in? I responded, What do you mean, conspiracy? The reporter responded, From everything I have read, Jim Hansen is anti-wilderness, anti-open space, pro-timber, pro-mining. The reports haven't even mentioned Jim's name for getting the funding. What is Utah trying to hide?
The truth is that Jim Hansen is an avid outdoorsman, did lots of good things for public lands, and the Wilcox Ranch Acquisition. Yet, the media vilified Jim Hansen, just as they are Bush.
This past summer, President Bush took 15 leaders of the major wildlife conservation organizations to his ranch and showed them all the habitat improvement projects he has completed there. The professional wildlife people were impressed, but it was never mentioned in the press.
For good land management, for good government of middle-of-the-road people, like Congressman Jim Matheson who has the support of many traditional Republican voters, and Republican governor's candidate Jon Huntsman Jr. who supports the open space initiative, a non-traditional Republican issue, the media, the political parties and the candidates need to get beyond the polarizing and divisive headlines.
The media reported a Republican sportsmen leader (they didn't mention he is now funded by the liberal PEW Foundation) is opposed to the rule reversal. For the record, most Utah sportsmen are in favor of the Bush rule so the forest can be managed by those living closer to the land.
---
Don Peay is founder of Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife. He lives in Bountiful.
-
