Public lands face unprecedented threats
By Leigh H. Perkins, Jr. and Benjamin Bulis, guest columnists
6 hrs ago
... as our nation marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, we at the American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) are reminded of .. Wallace Stegner’s observation about our national parks being “the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst.”
Stegner was right. Across our country – even in times of national strife and discord — shared and protected public spaces have always brought people together and served as a source of deep national pride. These lands provide access to outdoor recreation, help tell our national story and are a declarative statement about our nation’s commitment to protecting public lands as a commons for all Americans of all generations ...
Over the past several years, anti-conservation voices in Congress, led by Rep. Rob Bishop of Utah, have sought to gut the Antiquities Act and prevent presidents from protecting our public lands and heritage. This is almost unbelievable considering that Americans of all stripes support protecting these places. In addition, our public lands support a $650 billion outdoor recreation industry that includes fishing on our nation’s rivers, streams, lakes and oceans ...
... it’s not just our business that can be harmed by this anti-public lands agenda, it’s a way of life that would also be in peril should these “Sagebrush Rebels” get their way ...
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/opinions/guest_columnists/our-shared-public-lands-face-unprecedented-threats/article_c35cad65-9857-5586-ac1c-da5e967cee68.html
