Conservation Northwest protects and connects old-growth forests and other wild areas from the Washington Coast to the British Columbia Rockies, vital to a healthy future for us, our children, and wildlife. Since 1989, Conservation Northwest has worke
Issue link: http://conservationnw.uberflip.com/i/661738
Protecting our public lands Opposite page: Chase speaks to the crowd at this January's "Public Lands For All" rally. Photo: Paul Bannick Conservation Northwest partnered with other groups to organize rallies across the Northwest during the seizure of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. New public lands video— We are planning "Celebrate Your Public Lands" events on April 23 in conjunction with Earth Week! Visit our website and Facebook page for updates. government lands in the area were set aside "as a preserve and breeding ground for native birds." Land was added to the refuge over the years through purchases from willing landowners. With endur - ing partnerships between refuge staff, state and federal agencies, local farmers and ranchers, and other stakeholders including birders and hunters, Malheur became "known for listening," a model for successful collaboration on Ameri - ca's public lands: a point apparently lost on those who seized the refuge to ad- vance their land grab agenda. Public lands managed by the federal government for all Americans not only protect our history, wildlife habitat, and natural beauty, but they draw visitors from across the country and around the world. More than 292 million people visited national parks last year, and even more hiked, camped, fished, watched wildlife, and enjoyed other public lands from national forests to wildlife ref - uges. And despite the extremists who spent this winter grabbing headlines, bi- partisan polling has consistently shown broad public support for federal owner - ship of public lands. Studies have also shown that "rural counties in the West with the most fed- eral lands did better economically than other counties. ose counties saw fast- er growth in population, employment, personal income, and per capita income growth" (Headwaters Economics). e outdoor recreation industry alone gen - erates "6.1 million jobs a year and $646 billion in consumer spending nation- wide" (Outdoor Industry Association). In Washington state, nearly 200,000 jobs are supported directly or indirectly by outdoor recreation—more than our state's technolog y or aerospace indus - tries. Extremist propaganda may try to make some residents believe otherwise, but public lands are undeniably good for local communities and economies. Protected and connected public lands are at the core of Conser vation Northwest's mission. And we firmly be- lieve that public lands are the birthright of all Americans. They're vital habitat for fish and wildlife, and give all of us, rich or poor, urban or rural, the op - portunity to hike, ski, climb, fish, hunt and much more. As conser vationist John Muir put it, these are places to find "beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul." Public forestlands are also the source of most of America's drinking water and store vast amounts of carbon to stabilize our climate. And when we share and manage them according to thoughtful stewardship and the rule of law, public lands provide the resources for sustain - able forestry, livestock grazing and other commercial uses. Our national parks, wildlife refuges, forests and other public lands belong to all of us. And from petitioning the me - dia and elected leaders to holding rallies and continuing to work with diverse stakeholders in forest collaboratives and on conflict transformation around wild - life management, Conservation North- west will continue working tirelessly to keep it that way. at o-quoted founding father of conservation, eodore Roosevelt, said one more thing that's worth dwelling on today: "Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natu - ral resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children. Do not let selfish men or greedy inter - ests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance." 100 years since T.R. and we still face threats to our country's natural wonders. But in the face of these new "greedy in - terests," let it be known that we have not forgotten Roosevelt's warning. And to those who would steal our sacred heri- tage: know that we will not let you. The sun rises and fog recedes over Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, a cherished piece of public land for many Washingtonians. Photo: Chase Gunnell Protecting our public lands Keeping the Northwest wild Winter/Spring 2016 5