I looked up from the soft mud along Rawhide Creek in the Elkhorns where I had just seen a paw print when I spotted the bear ambling through the meadow. I quickly grabbed my dog by the collar and ducked behind some brush. The bear caught our scent, lifted his nose into the air, turned and disappeared into the timber. With thoughts of the bear sighting fresh on my mind I felt grateful for the opportunity to experience a pristine natural environment that comes with protecting our roadless lands.
Montana is rich with productive, diverse environments, which provide an abundance of both material and spiritual forms of wealth. We all require certain material wealth to survive but spiritual wealth - such as solitude and natural beauty - are equally important. Roadless lands and the natural amenities they provide are something we in Montana are blessed to have.
Unfortunately material wealth is often enhanced at the expense of spiritual wealth. Values that are not easily quantified are neglected in economic analysis that directs land management decisions. Values held dear by most Montanans are being lost in our quest for material wealth and thus we unwittingly reduce the quality of our lives.
Thousands of Montanans commented in overwhelming support of the Roadless Rule . The values associated with roadless areas are a significant reason why people choose to live and recreate in this great state. Access to roadless lands adds greatly to our quality of life.
They provide for a variety of experiences and it's sad that we are destroying opportunities for this diversity. If the quality of roadless areas in Montana is diminished, so too will the quality of our lives.
As a biologist it is clear that maintenance of biological diversity correlates directly with the quality of the roadless lands that function as a fulcrum for the balance of this diversity. Numerous biological studies point to the value of roadless lands many of species to thrive or even survive.
Wild lands are internally diverse and wildlife is a part of the diversity. Roadless areas provide secure refuge and prime habitat for wildlife such as the Westslope cutthroat trout, grizzly bear and Canada lynx. It is our responsibility to protect and preserve these roadless lands, especially those that provide important wildlife habitat as well as unparalleled hunting and recreation opportunities.
A major concern to wildlife biologists is the development of roadless areas that were once pristine wildlife habitat. Driving this development is a steadily increasing human population, which in turn increases does the demand for roadless areas. Studies link high road density to reduced habitat quality for many species, elk being the prime example. Providing habitat security has become a top priority particularly in areas that are being rapidly developed. It is imperative that we work to keep our roadless lands intact and wildlife habitat in a pristine natural condition.
As the population of Montana grows the values associated with roadless lands will increase. Most Montanans participate in outdoor recreational activities. Hunting and fishing is an infusion of $500 million to our state's economy, much of which is dependent on roadless land. We need to balance industrial uses of our public lands - on the already roaded and most productive half - with the need to maintain some areas in a natural state for the benefit of wildlife and public enjoyment. The economic value of our roadless lands will continue to increase at a rate that exceeds the population growth rate.
Many sportsmen would agree that some of the best areas for hunting and fishing in Montana are located in areas without roads . Maintaining our roadless lands will ensure the continuation of quality hunting and fishing experiences and a higher quality of life for us and our children.
Timothy Vosburgh is a wildlife biologist and fourth generation native of Boulder, near the Elkhorn Mountains. He has conducted timber inventories on forest lands in four western states and is currently working on threatened and endangered species recovery, small mammal population ecology and rangeland health inventories across Montana.
