Wilderness areas, Montana’s economy under attack meet at Library JAN 10by Nancy Schultz
Wilderness — One of Montana’s greatest treasures will be the topic George Wuerthner, noted author and ecologist, will address at a public wilderness forum set for Wednesday, January 10th at Bozeman Public Library. The program will begin at 7pm.
Wilderness areas are Montana’s best places for solitude where “there are no roads, no use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment or motorboats, no landing of aircraft, no other form of mechanical transport.” And, in addition, “where the land shall remain unimpaired for future use
and enjoyment.”
Wilderness provides the core home range for grizzlies and wolves, elk, bighorn sheep, moose and other species that have few remaining large, undisturbed landscapes within which to live. A wilderness that benefits wildlife benefits the hunter, wildlife watcher and naturalist.
However, wilderness areas are under attack:
– Bills have been introduced in both houses of Congress that would open wilderness areas to mountain bikes & other mechanized transport.
– Montana has many acres of federal lands that still qualify for wilderness status but have not yet been so designated, so those landscapes lie unprotected, which could forever keep them from getting future Wilderness Act protection.
– Wilderness Study Areas, WSAs, may lose their designation and be open to resource extraction-mining, oil, gas and coal, and logging, in addition to all the road construction and habitat destruction associated with resource extraction.
– Senator Daines is now asking for five WSAs to be released from WSA status in his bill, the “Protect Public Use of Public Lands Act.” If passed, the lands would stay in federal control but restrictions on uses like logging, grazing, motorized use
and resource extraction would be allowed.
Senator Daines said the designations have been an impediment to Montanans’ ability to use the lands over the last few decades. His bill has support from motorized use advocates, some county commissioners near the study areas,
timber interests, and mining industry groups.
However, the public has not been kept out of the WSAs. In fact, it has been using them for years. The University of Montana has conducted field studies in the five affected WSAs in Senator Daines’ bill. Field measures from these studies show lots of public use. The public is NOT being shut out.
This change in use would directly impact the very purpose of wilderness areas: to protect the land so it remains unimpaired for future use and enjoyment. The result will be a lessening of the wilderness experience for future generations and the erosion of the ecological function of wilderness areas. This threat is very real. Senator Daines is catering to special interests and is weakening a protective environmental law.
Protected public lands are good for the Montana economy. Citing the “Business for Montana’s Outdoors Five-Year Report: Montana’s Public Lands, Jobs, & the Economy,” a recent guest editorial in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle showed that from 2000 to 2015, Montana saw 102,000 net new jobs with 85 percent coming from service-related industries such as outdoor recreation, health care, real estate, professional and technical services. The research also shows how Montana’s counties with the highest percentage of protected public lands also see the fastest job growth in the state.
Much seems to be happening very quickly to Montana’s greatest treasures. Please speak up!
– Call Rep. Gianforte and tell him to vote NO on a bill that would amend the Wilderness Act to allow bikes, strollers, wheelbarrows, game carts, survey wheels, and measuring wheels in every unit of the National Wilderness Preservation System. (202) 225-3211
– Call Sen. Daines and ask him to remove his bill to take five Wilderness Study Areas from protected status. Tell him we need these areas to remain WSAs, that they’re crucial wildlife habitat, and how we value our WSAs. (202) 224-2651
– Call Sen. Tester and urge him to not allow the Wilderness Act to be weakened or to allow the withdrawal of the five Wilderness Study Areas. (202) 224-2644
Finally, join the Gallatin Wildlife Association, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, and Montanans for Gallatin Wilderness at 7pm on Wednesday, January 10th at Bozeman Public Library.
The evening will feature an excellent presentation by George Wuerthner, renowned ecologist.
Be sure to come with questions to make this an informative experience for all! •
