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Roadless areas deserve better protection

Thursday, February 15 at 3:28 PM

This Speakout has not been edited

By David A. Lien, Colorado Springs

I am writing to express the Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers’ (CBHA) opposition to the Owen’s Roadless Petition, which, although having many admirable points, we feel is flawed in several significant ways and consequently detrimental to Colorado’s wildlands and wildlife, and hence hunters and anglers.

Coloradans want our wild, roadless public lands to stay that way. This was demonstrated unequivocally by the outpouring of support for the 2001 Roadless Rule. During public comment on this rule, over 28,000 of us submitted comments to the U.S. Forest Service, and 26,000 of them, or 92 percent, requested the complete protection of all roadless areas in Colorado.

Despite broad public support and the importance of these areas for outdoor recreation, fishing, hunting, and family outings, the Bush administration attempted to repeal the Roadless Rule and replace it with a state-by-state petition process. In response, as you know, the Colorado legislature established the Roadless Areas Task Force in 2005. However, it should be noted that in 2004 over 60,000 Coloradans wrote to the Forest Service asking that the 2001 rule not be reversed and substituted with a state petition process.

With this in mind, we believe that the Owen’s Roadless Petition is not acceptable, in particular with regard to coal and ski lands losses and wording that seems designed to facilitate the expansion of commercial backcountry logging under the guise of disease and fire control. For example, the petition removes protections from some 82,000 acres for development of ski areas and coal mining, both of which can be sufficiently accommodated under the 2001 Roadless Rule provisions. Protection is also removed from approximately 300,000 acres of roadless areas because of inventory discrepancies.

Mark Konishi, deputy director of the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW), said the position of the DOW employees was that designated roadless areas should be maintained at the status quo. Specifically, DOW’s report said: “It is the consensus opinion based on science, local expertise and sound knowledge that all Inventoried Roadless Areas in Colorado should be protected.” In addition, when the final compilation of public comment was tallied by the Roadless Areas Task Force, an overwhelming 91 percent of Coloradans declared support for keeping our roadless areas free from injurious road construction and motorized access.

One little girl sent a drawing of a truck driving over trees and wrote, “I don’t think the forest should be destroyed.” Neither do we.

There are 14.5 million acres of Forest Service land in Colorado. Wilderness areas account for 3.3 million of those acres, roadless areas 4.4 million, and the rest is open for mixed use, including off-road recreation and energy exploration. Without protection equivalent to, or greater than, the current 2001 Roadless Rule, deer and elk ultimately will be pushed farther back into dwindling sanctuaries and vital native trout habitat sullied by erosion, further degrading Colorado’s already tarnished wildlands heritage and image.

It’s time for hunters and anglers, climber and hikers, outdoorsmen and women and everyone who values what little remains of our wild public lands to take a stand. As one concerned hunter, Ian Reid, said: “For me, it’s not enough anymore to simply hunt and fish and consume natural resources; I must speak up for them.” So must we all.

David A. Lien is the Front Range director of Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

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