The Time For Roadless Protection Is Now

Guest Commentary by Nathan Newcomer of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance.

The Time For Roadless Protection Is Now
By Nathan Newcomer
New Mexico Wilderness Alliance
 
            Just when you thought it was safe again to head outdoors and enjoy New Mexico’s National Forests, a judge in Wyoming is threatening to dismantle protections for the last thirty percent of America’s roadless forests, including 1.6 million acres in New Mexico. These wild forest lands include majestic meadows in the Gila, watersheds in the Pecos, and high alpine lakes in the Columbine Hondo near Taos.
            Over the past several years, many westerners have become accustomed to dealing with assaults on our most precious wild lands. Places like the Valle Vidal, once in the sights of the oil and gas industry are now protected thanks to a broad coalition of support from ranchers, hunters, conservationists and local elected officials. This bi-partisanship fostered action to be taken by our congressional leaders to permanently protect the Valle Vidal.
            Our roadless National Forests on the other hand have for the past decade been subjugated to irresponsible policies and tossed around the court system as if their watersheds, wildlife and scenic beauty were toys to be fooled with. Surprisingly though, most of New Mexico’s congressional delegation has been silent when it comes to protecting roadless National Forests.
            In late 2000, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, or Roadless Rule, was created to safeguard the last thirty percent of America’s roadless national forests from logging and other commercial development. The rule was designed to protect our pristine forestlands and their watersheds, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to come. Over 1.6 million public comments, 600 public hearings, and the involvement of federal, state, tribal, and private agencies were involved in the roadless rule process, making it one of the most comprehensive public involvement endeavors to ever take place in American history. Overall, 95 percent of the comments submitted were in favor of the strongest protection for these last wild places.
            However, in 2001, just hours after being sworn in, the Bush Administration halted the implementation of the roadless rule, and in 2005 took a chainsaw to the achievements of this bi-partisan effort to safeguard America’s forests, wildlife, clean air and fresh water.  The protections for our national forests were gutted and a clumsy process was set-up requiring individual states to jump through needless hoops to hang onto their roadless areas.
The administrations new policy of “roads to ruin” was designed to give governors of states the local authority to petition the federal government on whether to protect roadless national forests. Determining forest road policy on the local level may sound like a good idea, but it is the federal taxpayer who is saddled with the burden of paying for these roads once the loggers and miners have pulled up stake and gone home. Furthermore, these national forests belong to all Americans, and while some states will petition for protection, others may destroy them in the short term.
More recently, a judge in Wyoming is threatening to overturn the roadless rule, which would dismantle protection for more than 58 million acres of wild forests.
            This type of legal court wrangling does not serve the best interest of the public and actually jeopardizes some of our most prized roadless areas. Santa Fe’s drinking water comes from a roadless area in the Pecos National Forest, as does the drinking water for the communities of Las Vegas, Farmington, Ruidoso, Alamogordo, Silver City and many others.
            As most New Mexicans know, our National Forests serve as a precious economic engine for tourism and outdoor recreation. In a recent report issued by the Outdoor Industry Foundation, $3.8 billion is contributed to the state economy every year due to outdoor recreation. Many of these tourists, outdoor enthusiasts, and local residents utilize roadless areas for hunting big game elk and deer; for hiking along the crests of such wonderful mountain ranges as the Magdalena’s and the San Mateo Mountains.
            For several years, Congress has worked to pass legislation that would permanently protect our roadless National Forests, thus finally solidifying the permanent protection that these lands deserve, but a final bill has never made it through.
            With the majority of New Mexicans supporting the preservation of our last roadless forests, it is time for our congressional delegation to step up to the plate and join the call for permanently protecting these lands. When they do, our leaders in congress will ensure that our quality of life will not only improve but also become the benchmark for prosperity and leadership in the American West.