Congressman Steve Pearce's office announced Friday it is expecting hundreds of New Mexicans to rally in Silver City on March 5 against the U.S. Forest Service's plans to close access roads inside the Gila National Forest. The rally will take place starting at noon at the Grant County Business and Convention Center on Highway 180 next to Ace Hardware. "This is the time to come together and say, 'enough is enough,'" Pearce told about 100 residents of Truth or Consequences on Thursday night. "It is time for the Forest Service to keep those roads open to the public. This is about an attempt to take away another of our freedoms as Americans." The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, which supports the Forest Service's proposed Travel Management Plan, said the regulations are necessary to preserve national forest. "The Gila National Forest has been under assault from off-road vehicles for decades, but the Forest Service is taking steps to protect this national treasure." the group says on its website. Thursday night's meeting in Truth or Consequences was organized by the new group, "Keep Our Forest Open." It was created by individuals who have voiced frustration over the Forest Service's proposed Travel Management Plan, which calls for thousands of miles of roads inside the Gila to be closed. Pearce is expected to be one of several speakers at the rally in Silver City...
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4 comments:
If one of my favlorite rides is closed because some DFH has a personal agenda against offroad vehicles, it'll just make it more of a rush to ride :-) My life, my rules... not yours!
If we weren't abusing the freedoms we already have -- by going off-road where it's posted, maybe they wouldn't feel the need to close it all down. Anyone who has been in the wilderness lately will see how sadly abused it is. If we won't take care of our wilderness then someone has to step in and help to preserve them!
Breese....Learn the definition of Wilderness! It isn't what you are saying it is.
BReese is right...I totally agree...The wilderness is full of nothing but parties, ATV's, and NOISE! I like to go to get away from all that! I spend more time picking up trash that the last camper left...Leave it cleaner than you found it!!!
And last time I checked, the meaning of wilderness is defined as: Wilderness or wildland is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by human activity. It may also be defined as: "The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet—those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with roads, pipelines or other industrial infrastructure."[1] Wilderness areas can be found in preserves, estates, farms, conservation preserves, ranches, National Forests, National Parks and even in urban areas along rivers, gulches or otherwise undeveloped areas. These areas are considered important for the survival of certain species, biodiversity, ecological studies, conservation, solitude, and recreation. Wilderness is deeply valued for cultural, spiritual, moral, and aesthetic reasons. Some nature writers believe wilderness areas are vital for the human spirit and creativity.[2] They may also preserve historic genetic traits and that they provide habitat for wild flora and fauna that may be difficult to recreate in zoos, arboretums or laboratories.
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