One year ago this month, the Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell stood on a stage flanked by Republican Governor Matt Mead of Wyoming and Democratic Governor Steve Bullock of Montana.
They were joined by ranchers, conservationists and other westerner stakeholders to proclaim the Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the greater sage-grouse did not warrant a listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) due to the creation of the strong, science-based Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) land management plans crafted by key western stakeholders. Also cited as a major contributor were the state plans, some of which had only been in place for a few months, which were likewise corroboratively drafted.
Unable to take yes for an answer, however, some politicians in Washington, D.C., and their K Street lobbyists want to stop the plans before they have the opportunity to succeed by placing inappropriate riders on must-pass legislation like the National Defense Authorization Act or the Continuing Resolution that funds basic Governmental operations.
That’s a shame, and while predictable, it only goes to show that some people would rather fight than win, especially when it comes to ensuring the greater sage-grouse and the over 350 species of flora and fauna that depend on functioning habitats on public land remain strong and vibrant.
Westerners know it is best to manage our land in a way that produces the greatest benefit, for the greatest good, over the longest period of time.
That was the standing philosophy of President Theodore Roosevelt when he created what was to become our national public land system, and his multiple use mandate has guided the use of American public lands for 100 years.
There have been ups and downs, but the sage-grouse land management plans were crafted with local input and with flexibility to fit ground-level conditions, represent a great opportunity to return to true, multiple use mandates that respect every use of public lands, including conserving wildlife habitat so we don’t end up in a position where we’ve destroyed that makes the West great.
Over the last year, we’ve seen the continued leasing of less sensitive public lands for oil, gas and mining. We’ve seen cows and sheep stay on the range and, with the release of memorandums instructing the BLM on how to implement the plans to an even greater degree, we see common sense and wisdom in allowing for all uses on public lands, especially where they are compatible. Despite some criticism about how these plans would harm our economy, that’s simply not the truth.
Through 15 individualized land management plans, covering 11 states and millions of acres, the DOI and BLM have given westerners what they asked for: a better way to manage the land that belongs to all Americans.
Stopping these plans from being implemented is another tactic used by anti-public land politicians and their lobbyist friends in their efforts to seize and sell land that every American owns. Their cynical ploy is to ensure that no management can happen on public lands, and therefore, public lands should be sold or given away.
As we approach the year anniversary of this monumental effort it is time to celebrate the success we’ve had.
These plans are more than the sage-grouse, they are about keeping public lands that we love forever open while ensuring they are properly managed in order to be able to be used and enjoyed for generations to come.
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