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Show @ Obituaries C2 @ Opinions C4 The Daily Herald Wilderness won't allow for errors Weare presently in a respite from the Wilderness Wars that have racked our state the past few years. itis only respite, but can afford an opportunityfor each of us to inform ourselves on what reallyis at stake, Behind all the bombast, egos, obstinacy and economic ambition there are some genuine fundamental issues. A team ofbiologists from the University of Utah and Brigham Young University have just published a fine article summarizing the natural resources that are placed at risk in this debate. Formally titled “Selecting Wildemess Areas to Conserve Utah's Biological Diversity,” it is published in the Great Basin ectsSeeyee issue of April 30, 1996. Jack W.Sites Jr., Dennis K. Shiozawa, a Kimball Duane Jeffery Daily Heraid Photos/Matthew R. Smith Colleen Christensen,left, and Hazel Wignall work at the information desk as volunteers at Mountain View Hospital in Payson. Science & Society T. Harper, BYUbiologists, are amongthe authors.It is as succinct and documented a treatise as I have seen. The Wildemess Act of 1964 sought to provide means to preserve irreplaceable resources.It is recognized that while piecemeal and at best “extended temporary”preser- vation ofspecies can be accom- plished in parks and zoos, only the preservation oflarge tracts of essen- tially undisturbed land can preserve Giving the gilt of isi functioning ecosystems and ensure fong-term survival of species and organisms that have taken ages to Volunteers find fulfillment in service produce and which will never appear again once lost. Tt becomes critical, then, to link together large tracts ofland to form By CARIN GREEN Special to The Daily Heraid interconnected networks, And buman intrusionsinto these must be kept minimal. The reasons for this are not immediately obvious, | think, so let’s take a look. Roads and artificial waterways seem innocuous,at first glance, but they have major implications. The above report summarizes effects on animals, on plant communities, and on ctyptobiotic soils of the type that is common in Utah’s wildlands. The immediate impact of a road into wild areas can surelynot be missed by anyone who looks — it is the disruption of native soils which provides a haven for introduced species thatare either useless or PAYSON — Reasons for volunteering are as numerous and diverse as the people who participate in the activity. Some are driven by an inner sense to give and serve. Others seek fulfiliment through knowing they have helped someone else And still many feel a sense of satisfaction in belonging to a group of people with the same values. These and many other reasons are the foundation for the 82 volunteers and 20 candy stripers who give of their time freely at Mountain View Hospital. Six of the volunteers are college students who are working towards their future downright harmful. A few decades back when halogeton (a poisonous inally beneficial for livestock) first began invading our ranges, it grew only in lush lines right on the shoulders of the roads cutting across our deserts, Like an arrow these roads carried this exotic species deep into the heart of the wildlands. With further soil distur- bance by livestock and human use, it spread rapidly laterally, crowding out native and more beneficial plants, Cheat grass and a number of other invadersdid precisely the same. These plants hold water less career. The volunteers, who have an average age of 62, well than the native species did, exposing precious ranges to increased water and wind erosion. Animal species are affected immediately by changes in the vegetation, of course, Critical diet speciesare lost. Roads increase human presence, and a ga of species(¢.g., bighom sheep,ri otters, black bear) do not do well wihscan human presence, with Poaching és markedly iceegelty roads. Many animals donot readily cross roads; their habitat thus becomes ever more fragmented and the populations isolated and numbers reduced, The crusty surface on many of our desert soils is made of a collection of tiny species: cyanobacteria, algae, lichens and mosses. Seem- ingly insignificant, these organisms y major roles in fixing mitrogen lady” duties. Vol come from Springville, Mapleton, Salem, Spanish Fork, Santaquin, Elk Ridge and Payson. Job application, inter“We can’t function view, orientation , and without these volunHazel ee a baby Chelsey Kay on training. “We check the teers,” said Lana Hone, applications and espe- = | director for cially the references,” Mountain View Hospital. She alsois director of the senior pro- ities,” Hone said. “It dispels the Hone said. “This is just like a real the hospital, includ- gram and breast cancer support, " offices, emergency com, same-day surgery, physical therapy, pediatrics and nursery. 3 These are church and civic serving people who are busy.” “I have been working with people whoengagein a career for money and those who volunteer,” said Hone. “These are easier to work with because there is no desire for money involved. They are rare people. I am thrilled to come to work each day because T am surrounded by goodness. They are not driven by prestige or climbing the corporate ladder. They are driven by the power of love and service.” One volunteer was referred by a bishop at her local ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because she had been recently widowed and needed a social outlet “They [volunteers] have a unity thatis quite phenomenal,” Hone said. “This group also has bonded together for a social outlet. These volunteers consider each other as family.” Hone says the volunteers are screened with a ii plant only like a job — only without pay “Manyofour volunteers have children at home, work full-time jobs and have family responsibil- _beliefthat these are old people or job.” Working on a regular, four- Widows who have nothing to do hour shift, these volunteers treat it. but sit at home. Thisis not true. The unpaid workers are then J (See TIME, Page C2) 4 ospitalchosen to receive 3national awards “Tt is Sad hoops sinbe the World Series!” Larsen said. ‘nd wewat to please them,’ antee tain View tals - Benchmarks Success,” which is given by HCIA and Mercer, a human town,” Larsen: Sossrers effectiveness. Moun29 out of 50in the U.S. _ = ~ Fy 4-4 |