Do we really need a road between Cortez and Durango? Do we need a road to Groundhog Lake? Im not sure we need paved streets in Cortez!
After all, just look at the damage these things cause by their existence. Trees are killed, grass and flowers are killed, maybe a two-toed cross-eyed sapsucker lost its resting place. Hills are cut and filled; silt is washed from their surface; gravel is mined, transported and scattered on these roads. People are run over crossing the streets to be first into Wal-Mart for Black Thursday.
Yes, these are a travesty to our environment, and obviously they should be closed and rehabilitated. we should all be walking or riding horses to save our environment. Bicycles, autos, etc., all use metal and plastics obtained from mining and oil drilling, , which damages the environment, so no more of that bad stuff. No more electricity, since it requires mining, drilling, dams, to produce it. Dang, cant even go back to coal-oil lamps, with no mining allowed.
Hey, how will I build my house? Cant cut trees or mine metals. Under the new rules, cant even live in a teepee or hogan since they need trees to cut and animal skins. Dont tell PETA!
Life is really going to get interesting under the new Environmental America. This may sound crazy, but there are many entities that would love to see this and are actually working toward a goal, and have been for some time.
The public lands agencies move to close many roads and restrict access by the public is simply one of the more visible and obvious moves by these entities. the closures and restrictions have no scientific basis as a needed action for the management and use of the local natural resources. Their purpose is for people control! This is clearly pointed out in a 1994 BLM internal working document, where it states, All ecosystem management activities should consider human beings as a biological resource. That places us in the same mix as coyotes, skunks, deer, etc., to be managed and controlled.
This was a follow-up to a working documented circulated by the EPA on March 9, 1993, that stated, Natural resource and environmental agencies ... should ... develop a joint strategy to help the United States full fill its existing international obligations ... the executive branch should direct federal agencies to evaluate national policies ... in light of international policies and obligations, and to amend national policies to achieve international objectives.
What international objective? This is in reference to a non-ratified agreement with the Convention on Biological Diversity, Agenda 21, an ICUN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) entity, which is dedicated to the religious concept of sustainable development.
We need to remember the word sustainable. Where we see that word it is mostly likely tied to this UN agenda of international control. The federal public land management agencies have been following the EPA directive by instituting their new regulations, which become law, all without any congressional oversight. The road density policy we are dealing with locally is but one of many that have been put into place and are now being implemented.
President Clintons Council of Sustainable Development implemented the core tenets of Agenda 21. It changed the mission statements of the federal agencies from assisting citizens in our natural resources to protecting the resources from the citizens! This is clearly demonstrated in the closure and restricted use of public lands.
Also, it is noted that the San Juan forest plan changed the suitable timber use areas to nearly one-half of what it was before the 1993 EPA directive. This flies in the face of the plans other statement that demand for confiders, particularly ponderosa pine, is below what is needed to support forest health. For a healthy forest, their timber staff say there needs to be more harvesting. However, the plans ended up taking more timber areas out of management, and now reducing and eliminating access to be able to utilize the forest for its own health.
To justify restricting use of the lands by the human resource, the agencies use nebulous terms such as protect from damage. What is damage? we all immediately form a mental image based on our background. the dictionaries dont even give a specific definition.
Was the digging out of pits for stock water damage, since wildlife also used it? Hunters then were able to use it also. Was the harvesting of trees that opened dense areas to the sun for increased growth of grass and flowering plants damage/ Is the ripping up and closing of legal roadways damage?
There is an obvious need for the states and counties to regain control over their lands and resources if we hope to rebuild our economy and the health of the natural resources.
Dexter Gill, of Lewis, is a retired state and tribal forester.
