I was disappointed to see the Feb. 26 Journal using the Forest Service draft plan for grazing in the Weminuche Wilderness to push the views of special interest activist groups. The Journal apparently had solicited comments from three groups calling themselves “conservation” organizations, and which were giving critical comments in an apparent attempt to discredit good scientific management of the forest and to prejudice the public’s concept of the management benefits.
The Wild Earth Guardians’ statement had the audacity to assume it was speaking on behalf of what “the American people” want for public lands. They do not speak for the people — only themselves! They say the “people” don’t want rural uses such as livestock grazing, but recreation and conservation. Conservation is an action of protecting from loss and waste, such as use of forage, reducing flash and heavy fuels to prevent loss from fires and insects.
I don’t recall hearing all the people say we no longer want to use the forests to help sustain and grow the local economy. The detractors cited what they see as small revenues that the Forest Service receives from grazing allotments as not equal to those required on private lands. That is comparing apples and oranges. They ignore the fact that the allottee pays county taxes on the allotment in addition to the grazing fees and other costs of management, while the detractors pay nothing to use the same area, trails and facilities, which is considerably different than hiking and hunting on private lands.
It is also interesting that the Journal only referenced one of six allotments, one leased by a local state representative. Was it to possibly paint a negative picture of him grazing the public land? This story follows a previous article regarding the leadership of the American Lands Council, where words such as “militant,” “seizure” of national forests, “right-wing extremists,” “anti-government militia” all to provide a very negative perception in the minds of the public under the cover of journalism?
Dexter Gill
Lewis