Recommended wilderness: once it's gone, it's gone forever
To the Editor:
I have read that people in and around the Kootenai National Forest don't want wilderness. But when I look at how we market the area to potential businesses and travelers, the wild nature of our landscape is front and center. It is hypocritical to say that wilderness is not important while at the same time taking our dogs bird hunting in the Yaak, viewing the mountains from our living room window and bragging to our friends and visitors about the beautiful, unspoiled place we live and play.
After all of the work that was done over the past year on the Kootenai National Forest Plan Revision, I was disappointed to hear Supervisor Castenada make a unilateral decision to remove all recommended wilderness from the plan.
As a business owner, I find it shocking how short sighted this decision is. Wilderness is critical to Montana's economy whether they are retailers in downtown Libby or outfitters and guides. The pristine character of these areas is critical to our economy. Wildlife-related tourism alone contributes an estimated $1.7 billion to Montana's economy each year. As other states become more developed, Montana's wilderness will become an even larger economic asset. Despite statements to the contrary, wilderness designation in no way precludes people from using the land to hunt, hike, fish and simply enjoy.
As a mother, the decision saddens me. Without protection, my son may never have the opportunity to experience these unspoiled lands. My husband and I take our families and our friends to these wild places to hike, hunt, fish, camp and just appreciate nature. Things that they cannot get any place else.
These places provide respite from the concrete and the din of society's day to day rush. As he grows, I hope he, like your children and grandchildren, can experience these amazing places.
In addition to being foolhardy and short sighted, I just find it incredibly selfish that we - the current stewards of land around us - believe that our needs and desires outweigh those of future generations. Once logged or mined or roaded, this land can never go back to its original state. I don't think that setting aside a small portion - 5 or 6 percent (out of over 2 million acres in the Kootenai) is asking too much.
The scarcity of wilderness in the Kootenai is compelling. If you put it in perspective, what is 6 percent? Six cents on a dollar, $6 of one hundred dollars, $60 of one thousand dollars. When you put the acres recommended for wilderness in perspective, you realize what a small portion it is out of more than 2 million acres of the Kootenai National Forest. Once it is gone, it is gone forever. For those of you who appreciate the beauty of the land around you, insist that some if it be designated wilderness.
Molly McCabe