BuzzH
Well-known member
Good article in the Casper Star Tribune.
Credit here to Nick Dobric with TRCP and Jeff Muratore with Wyoming Backcountry Hunters and Anglers for presenting the case.
Kudos to the editorial board for running this piece, enjoy.
Editorial board: Keep public lands in federal control
Star-Tribune editorial board
Jun 1, 2016
Wyoming is a special place.
It’s special in part because of its pristine wildlands and its jaw-dropping scenery. Every year, visitors flock to the Grand Prismatic Spring and the rest of the thermal features at Yellowstone National Park. They gaze at the Tetons, the mountains jutting from earth to sky, and they see elk, deer and other wildlife living as they were meant to live – wild and free.
This is the sort of result we could expect more of if Wyoming was to take ownership of lands that are currently managed by the federal government. Unfortunately, it’s also the sort of legislation we have come to see some Wyoming lawmakers propose.
These measures so far have failed, with Wyomingites saying time and again that a federal land takeover is not the right move.
People who live here know that these lands are rich with opportunities and meaning, and they should not be sold to the highest bidder. Whether the land parcel is in the middle of Grand Teton National Park or in Natrona County, they offer invaluable, irreplaceable benefits. This matters very much in Wyoming, where about half of the land is owned by the public.
Public land provides dramatic benefits to those of us who live in Wyoming for the chance to hunt, fish, backpack, camp and hike on them. Others visit, bringing their tourism dollars, for that same reason. Even for those who don’t use them directly, public lands preserve many of the stunning views around the state.
It’s also important to note that state land, while it is technically public, doesn’t come with all the same benefits as federal land. Users can’t camp on state land, for example, and access could be closed at any time at the whim of the state lands board.
Our public land system is uniquely American – everyone is entitled to enjoy the space, regardless of income or any other factor.
These parcels of land aren’t just land. They represent opportunity and equality, two characteristics that define Wyoming values.
These lands are irreplaceable. We in Wyoming should recognize these benefits and work to preserve these lands for what they are — an American tradition and a national treasure.
Read full story here:
http://trib.com/editorial-board-kee...cle_24314e38-a3b2-5eab-9147-afa34d7c0068.html
Credit here to Nick Dobric with TRCP and Jeff Muratore with Wyoming Backcountry Hunters and Anglers for presenting the case.
Kudos to the editorial board for running this piece, enjoy.
Editorial board: Keep public lands in federal control
Star-Tribune editorial board
Jun 1, 2016
Wyoming is a special place.
It’s special in part because of its pristine wildlands and its jaw-dropping scenery. Every year, visitors flock to the Grand Prismatic Spring and the rest of the thermal features at Yellowstone National Park. They gaze at the Tetons, the mountains jutting from earth to sky, and they see elk, deer and other wildlife living as they were meant to live – wild and free.
This is the sort of result we could expect more of if Wyoming was to take ownership of lands that are currently managed by the federal government. Unfortunately, it’s also the sort of legislation we have come to see some Wyoming lawmakers propose.
These measures so far have failed, with Wyomingites saying time and again that a federal land takeover is not the right move.
People who live here know that these lands are rich with opportunities and meaning, and they should not be sold to the highest bidder. Whether the land parcel is in the middle of Grand Teton National Park or in Natrona County, they offer invaluable, irreplaceable benefits. This matters very much in Wyoming, where about half of the land is owned by the public.
Public land provides dramatic benefits to those of us who live in Wyoming for the chance to hunt, fish, backpack, camp and hike on them. Others visit, bringing their tourism dollars, for that same reason. Even for those who don’t use them directly, public lands preserve many of the stunning views around the state.
It’s also important to note that state land, while it is technically public, doesn’t come with all the same benefits as federal land. Users can’t camp on state land, for example, and access could be closed at any time at the whim of the state lands board.
Our public land system is uniquely American – everyone is entitled to enjoy the space, regardless of income or any other factor.
These parcels of land aren’t just land. They represent opportunity and equality, two characteristics that define Wyoming values.
These lands are irreplaceable. We in Wyoming should recognize these benefits and work to preserve these lands for what they are — an American tradition and a national treasure.
Read full story here:
http://trib.com/editorial-board-kee...cle_24314e38-a3b2-5eab-9147-afa34d7c0068.html
