It has been said that no environmental victories are permanent. In the west this is especially true. Huge areas of once wild land have been ruined and done away with by many facets including off-roaders and industries. The greatest permanent conservation victory to this day is Wilderness designation. However, there is still another 100 million acres of undeveloped lands that do not have wilderness protection. Due to vast interest by industry and little public support it remains at risk.
Conservationists have tried for other ways to protect these areas, such as the Antiquities Act of 1906. Clinton attempted to keep roads out of nearly 60 million acres of national forest.
We, as environmentalists who care deeply for our lands need to dig in and tough it out and hope that the kettle bellies in Washington may someday see the light and do what is right in spite of the big industries’ power and pay offs!
Floyd Wood
Corvallis
Marguerite Ciofani says
well said!