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I'm
so tired of the vocal minority (with money) influencing
my public lands that I could puke! I say it's time for
multiple-use to rule the world! (g). By that I mean,
it's time that we take back control of how land use
decisions are made in this country. It's time for recreation
and multiple-use to rule!
How
do we go about that? How do we get after-market manufacturers,
RV groups and industry, motorized recreationists, equestrians,
mountain bikers, AARP members, SUV drivers, hunters,
metal detectors etc. all rowing in the same boat so
we control the boat? Well, it's a big order; but we
can do it.
Do
you have any idea how large our numbers would be if
we were standing side by side with everyone who tows
a SUV behind their motorhome; everyone who has a four
wheel drive; everyone who snowmobiles; everyone who
like to ride horses or dirt bikes or mountain bikes;
everyone who buys after-market products for their toys;
everyone who plays on a personal watercraft; everyone
who makes a living off of public lands; and so on and
so on??? HUGE! We would literally rule the world because
that would be the majority of Americans.
Unity;
united front; cohesive effort; banding together; and
being on the same side, are all ways to say the same
thing. In order to achieve such unity, we must learn
the first step: SHARE. Within our own ranks, we must
learn to share the trails; share the public lands; share
our opportunities with others to increase understanding
and tolerance. There's an old saying: "Seek first
to understand; then be understood." By learning
to share with others, we learn their needs and they
ours. Once we can see how another use of public lands
fits with ours, we can develop a way to share those
public lands to
the benefit of all.
There
will be times when uses of public lands conflict with
each other. That's normal. But here is where we must
help our public land managers develop a plan to accommodate
the many uses and minimize the conflict. We all need
to be a part of this process. We also need to be presenting
a unified front while doing so. If I am a dirt biker,
then I should help my local public land manager develop
a trail system that accommodates both my needs and those
of hikers and equestrians. Some trails we can share;
some we should set aside for single use or limited use.
But I should be right there helping to develop that
plan.
If
I am a four-wheel drive person who likes to snow-wheel,
then I should help my local public land manager develop
a trail system that accommodates both my needs and those
of snowmobilers and cross-country skiers. We need to
work together in order to fully and effectively share
the trails while providing great experiences for all
users.
The
same thing is true for those who make a living off the
public lands. Timber harvesting, mining, grazing and
other uses are legitimate uses of public lands in many
places. We should be seeking ways to help public land
managers find opportunities to allow legitimate use
of our lands, while still accommodating the needs of
recreationists.
Can
you see why so many public land managers feel a bit
helpless at times? What an overwhelming task they face!
And the reason many of them are frustrated (and our
land designations get so screwed up) is that WE'RE NOT
IN THERE HELPING THEM!
We
OWN public land. It's ours. It's our right to recreate,
make a living, walk peacefully, ride a horse, sled in
the snow, crawl over the rocks, whatever. But public
land managers can no longer do it without us. You must
be part of the solution. We need to educate our elected
officials also. It's the same old story; but this time,
the ending can be influenced by us. Sharing trails is
one big solution to a national problem.
You
can read all the demographic studies you want; and the
bottom line is there's more of us (people) than ever
before and there's a lot more to come. Besides an expanding
population base, more of us are "taking to the
woods" for many reasons. The use of public lands
is growing at an alarming rate. Unfortunately public
lands are a limited, fixed asset. There's only so much
to go around. This is one reason many radical protectionist
groups are advocating more Wilderness -- to preserve
and protect from public use what is left.
The
counter to this is shared trails, cooperative land mangement,
public involvement and better use of what public lands
we have. We can help guide this process.
Let's take back control of our public lands! Get in
the game any way you can. Through involvement, sharing,
understanding, tolerance and cooperation, we can "rule
the world."
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