Mexico-to-Yukon conservation proposal unveiled - The Wildlands Project (TWP) growing wings

September 18, 2003

By Mead Gruver
Associated Press Writer
Casper Star Tribune

Cheyenne, Wyoming - A conservation group unveiled a strategy
Wednesday for protecting a contiguous area from Mexico to the
Canadian Yukon with the goal of preserving wildlife migration routes.

Of particular concern to The Wildlands Project (TWP) are five areas it
considers especially threatening to wildlife, like Interstate 70 through
central Colorado -- and I-40 east of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

''A park here, an open space there, isn't working -- because we're still
'losing species' at much higher than the 'natural extinction rate,''' said
Jen Clanahan, the group's regional director.

Clanahan explained that while few species migrate all the way from
Mexico to northern Canada, 'contiguous protected areas' make
replenishment possible when 'isolated populations' are wiped out due to
wildfire or disease.

And she said large animals such as wolves and bears require lots of
space -- as do 'natural processes' like wildfires and floods.

''It's a big plan and it's going to take a while to implement. We call it a
100-year vision,'' she said.

''The first step is you need to get out there and talk to everyone. And
that's what we're doing now is talking to agencies, the landowners, other
conservation groups, local community leaders.''

She said she hopes the blueprint can influence long-range planning by
the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.

Five ''endangered linkages'' are considered in need of immediate
protection:

Crowsnest Pass on the Alberta-British Columbia border
north of Waterton Lakes National Park,

southern Wyoming's Powder Rim,

Vail Pass in central Colorado,

the area between Sandia Mountain Wilderness and Cibola National Forest east
of Albuquerque,

and the Arizona-Mexico border.

http://www.wildlandsproject.org/roomtoroam

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Notes from readers:

From JS: At long last, The Wildlands Project is being reported by the major
news media.

From BH: And you thought that the "Wildlands Project" was just some
conspiracy theory ... thought up by rural resource providers to make green
environmentalist look bad.

From BB: Surprise! We're dealing with "100-year plans." These groups are
arrogant, well-funded and have some impressive expertise and labor available to
them. Those pesky Interstate Highways, human population centers and
farm/range lands just keep interfering with the ability of all those fuzzy,
cuddly critters to live and migrate wherever they want to between Mexico and the Yukon.

Perhaps we should call for a Florida To Maine conservation proposal that
would re-wild Washington, D.C., New york City and Boston. Years ago, I was told
that the entire east coast of North America would be a "megalopolis." Hey, the
animals were there first, too. If rewilding is so great let's get EVERY CITY
depopulated, too! I wonder how much urban support would exist for rewilding if
it meant the city-folk would live in caves (under pre-settlement conditions).
They do seem quite willing to politically impose that lifestyle on residents
of rural areas.

(Note from Julie Kay Smithson: Please note that, as the word 'environmentalist' loses its false luster, it is being replaced by the old stalking horse word, 'conservationist.' Same agenda, different word. Conned senses -- trick the emotions and paralyze the brain, so as to lull people into not seeing the Trojan Horse rolling into their midst. Beware, All! This is NOT a joke -- they are SERIOUS! And, they have plenty of support from the House and Senate! For more, read Al Gore's book, Earth in the Balance. Note the almost immediate contradiction: 'isolated populations' being 'wiped out' due to 'wildfire' or disease -- and then, that 'natural processes' like 'wildfires' and 'floods,' need 'lots of space.' So ... both the 'threats' to species -- if the threats are NATURAL PROCESSES -- and the 'natural processes' themselves, are needing the nebulous, no real, set in stone boundaries, just 'lots of space.' Ask yourself: How MUCH space do they need? The final clue: " ... [the TWP spokeswoman] hopes the blueprint can influence long-range planning by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management." Doesn't it sound like they intend to take all the space, eventually? Does this sound like land CONTROL and water CONTROL and people CONTROL? Yep! You get a gold star!)