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Your letters are needed now to convince the U.S. Forest Service Regional Forester to drop his unprecedented plan to allow chainsaws for clearing trails in the Weminuche and South San Juan Wildernesses in southern Colorado. The use of motorized equipment simply to make visitor access easier and more convenient is antithetical to Wilderness and is banned by the Wilderness Act, except in those extremely rare instances where such use is essential to wilderness protection. That is clearly not the case here.
In addition to being wrong for these Wildernesses, the decision will almost certainly set a precedent for using chainsaws throughout Region 2 and potentially beyond. For years, forests in the Region and throughout the West have been impacted by bark beetles, resulting in a lot of downed trees across trails. Typically, the trees are cleared with hand tools—the “Wilderness way”—and visitors adjust their plans accordingly. But a few local outfitters and stock user groups have convinced ambivalent Forest Service officials to approve chainsaw use.
The Forest Service didn’t conduct any public involvement or environmental review before authorizing chainsaw use, so this will likely be your only chance to let the Regional Forester know that you disapprove of his plan.
Wilderness exists for its own sake. It represents a piece of primitive America free of motor vehicles, motorized equipment, and other forms of technology that have allowed humans to dominate so much of the planet. Visitors should be prepared to alter their plans to accommodate acts of nature, rather than managers altering the Wilderness to appease impatient or uncaring visitors.
Generations of wilderness managers have stood up to interest groups demanding easier access when natural events block trails. The Regional Forester’s actions not only disrespect Wilderness, but also betray those who have stood up for Wilderness all these years, and he makes it easier for the next weak-kneed administrator to say yes the next time a proposal comes down the pipe.
Wilderness needs its supporters to speak up! Please urge the Regional Forester to rescind his decision to allow chainsaws in the Weminuche and South San Juan Wildernesses. Tell him to use the opportunity to inform visitors about Wilderness, and how natural processes like insects and falling trees are all part of the experience and shouldn’t be seen as an inconvenience, but instead as an opportunity to appreciate Wilderness on its own terms.
Time is urgent, so please write today to defend the Weminuche and South San Juan Wildernesses!
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Please visit www.WildernessWatch.org to see what other actions you can take to help keep Wilderness wild!
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