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Show PAGE THE ZEPHYR DECEMBER 1995 19 BOB (Editor' s Note: In addition the federal government shut down on November 13 which may have played a role in the BLM's failure to respond within the legal time frame. Still , if this isn't ' essential ' work, what is?) IMPACTS AND SOLUTIONS Chaining of these resources has become a major concern. Now that Manifest Destiny is a thing of the past, we must diligently protect our remaining natural areas. Our world and our region have undergone incredible disruption and fragmentation. The small and isolated mountain ranges, our island parks and wilderness areas in southeastern Utah arc now very small. Because of this breakup, all areas are of even greater importance and of even greater value. We have seen vast amounts of habitat loss. Endangered species and landscapes have undergone much devastation. There are few roadless corridors available for the free movement of black bears, mountain lions, and other wildlife between the higher mountains and benches and the lower plateaus, canyons, and mesas. There has been accelerated erosion on an unprecedented scale because of man's intrusion. This affects the watersheds and other resources on which we are dependent. Grazing and agriculture arc certainly not the only legitimate uses. Chaining has decreased the forest wilderness and thousands of acres of forest land now lay bare. And through past chaining operations many archeological and cultural sites of the Indian peoples have been bulldozed out and destroyed. With it came a like destruction of many ruins and sites of the ancient Anasazi peoples. And thousands of acres of this same woodland have been burned, depriving Native Americans their needed firewood. This same process has been played over and over in many canyon areas. It has also deprived them of many of their original ceremonial sites and places to gather their herbs. Located on Hwy. 191 (Main Street) north of Moab, north of the Colorado River bridge. Call (801)259-510- 1 FROM DIRK, DARREN AND DEVON... HAPPY HOLIDAYS. UNTIL WE RETURN IN THE SPRING, WE'LL BE DOING THAT MUSK OX THING. INDIAN RESOLUTION The Utah Navajo Commission not long ago adopted a resolution regarding the lands encompassing Cedar Mesa in the Nloab District. They reiterated their desires owned & operated by 3-- D that the land on and around Cedar Mesa be protected from the damaging effects of oil development, uranium mining, and pinyon and juniper chaining operations. The Cedar Mesa area is traditional aboriginal land, an area that has a great religious, spiritual, cultural, and economic significance to them. The Indian peoples want to protect their lands so that they can continue to visit their sacred sites, to gather herbs for their personal and ceremonial uses, and to gather wood for their fuel and construction needs. Their concerns arc likewise applicable to all the remaining areas of natural environments throughout the state. Possibly the white community could adopt much of this same philosophy concerning the future use of these remaining lands. Many of us do. "Habitat improvement" has now come to mean significantly increased grazing of "Habitat improvement" now means chaining domestic livestock and wildlife. traditional a government practice. Let's call a spade a spade and not hide operations, behind fancy and devious language. It's time that government gets that message. Government must communicate openly with the public. Information must be readily available. River Visions, Inc. i i i INVENTORY i i Though not announced, the moratorium is now over. The assault on our lands movement has infiltrated and effectively lobbied its special continues. The "wise-use- " interests. Now it's time to fight back and spare no effort in order to retain and reclaim our natural areas. A word to the BLM - we'll not forget this! SAVINGS UP TO 60 l LAST CHANCE i FOR BATIKS BY ANNE GREAT XMAS GIFT. |