One of the more beautiful areas in Colorado’s San Juan National Forest — a treasured wildlife area that is also well-known for recreational resources — is one step closer to permanent protection thanks to new legislation introduced by Sen. Michael Bennet.
Earlier this month I was fortunate enough to help organize and participate in one of the first trail stewardship projects in one of Idaho’s newest Wilderness areas, Big Jacks Creek Wilderness. It was an experience that was physically challenging and richly rewarding. The Wilder
I have never visited the Tongass National Forest, and there’s probably a good chance that I never will. But like many other silence-evoking places, I find both comfort and pride in knowing it exists today much as it did in the past.
Today, we have the opportunity to improve the LWCF program so that more polluter dollars can be used to protect everything from our national parks to local playgrounds.
Both seek to open up Wilderness-quality lands – those untrammeled places protected by The Wilderness Act of 1964 – to development, mining and other destructive uses. They also attack lands deemed Inventoried Roadless Areas, which are not allowed to be developed.
The 150 million plus acres are home to thousands of species of birds, fish, and wildlife – nearly 21 million acres of these incredible landscapes are permanently protected from degradation and destruction in the National Wilderness Preservation System.
