Public land is getting more and more scarce these days, and fear of not having a place to enjoy the great outdoors in our 4x4 vehicles is creeping closer. Advocates for Access to Public Lands (www.access-advocates.org) has started an online petition to help support the creation of a federally legislated Semi-Primitive BackCountry Recreation Designation to preserve all existing multiple-use lands. This designation would be good for the environment by promoting biodiversity and forest health through active management, good for the economy by creating recreation opportunities and long-term renewable-resource jobs and products, and good for the public by preserving all types of public access.
In the past, concessions have been made allowing other lands to be designated Wilderness while leaving remaining lands open to multiple use. Contrary to these past agreements, Wilderness advocates now want the remaining lands. Many of the proposed areas, if not all of them, do not meet the original intent of Wilderness, Wild & Scenic Rivers, National Parks, or Preserve Areas.
Wilderness bills such as this undermine the many years of work put in by the public and the Forest Service to preserve motorized road and trail systems. One particular bill, the Pilot Program of Wildland Restoration Areas, proposes to remove 6,300 miles of backcountry roads without any public involvement. These types of programs and bills will have a negative impact on the environment, rural economies, tourism, and recreation.
Many of us talk about fighting for our lands but don't do much acting. So what can you do? If you would like to be a part of the solution, visit the website listed below to sign the petition.
Besides signing this petition, we encourage all four-wheel-drive enthusiasts to stay aware of pending local- and national-level land-closure legislation and help out wherever and whenever you can. Some people don't act unless the trails that are in jeopardy are in their own backyard. We all need to help out to get what we want: keeping all of our public lands open!
To sign the petition and show your support, please visit http://host593.ipowerweb.com/~access-a/backcountry_petition/index.php.