Rep. Pearce in denial over Great Outdoors Giveaway

It’s time for other elected officials to speak up against him

It seems that Rep. Steve Pearce is squirming after a recent article written by NMWild Associate Director Nathan Newcomer.

Newcomer’s article, “The Great Outdoors Giveaway,” talks about the effects of Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act, which would open 2 million acres of public protected lands in New Mexico to development.

Read Newcomer’s article.

Pearce’s press secretary, Jamie Dickerman, watered down the bill by saying it does not sell-off land, but “simply opens certain land to multiple uses, while keeping them under federal ownership.”

Dickerman went on to assert that Pearce is an avid outdoorsman who “is very proud of New Mexico’s public lands, and works diligently to conserve them in the most appropriate manner possible. To suggest otherwise is not only baseless and unfair, but shows clearly that Mr. Newcomer is more interested in personal attacks than a rational discussion. Further, Rep. Pearce has previously voted in favor of wilderness designation in those cases where it was appropriate.”

To the contrary, Congressman Pearce has consistently stood in the way of wilderness protection. In an attempt to defund the Mexican wolf recovery program, Pearce said, “The most provocative sound to a wolf is a crying baby or a laughing baby. It’s a matter of time until these wolves, which will stalk for weeks and weeks and weeks at a time around local homes, it’s a matter of time until a wolf catches one of these children. Their blood will be on your hands. (Congressional Record, June 26, 2007, page H7170). He has also spoken against the Endangered Species Act, saying it is a threat to the New Mexico economy and border security.

For several months Congressman Pearce has been actively advocating for local communities to “take back” power from the federal government, and implying that the federal government does not actually have jurisdiction over public lands. Since these calls and rallies there have been several incidents of county officials in New Mexico being destructive towards federal land and echoing Pearce’s statements.

In August, Catron County officials, with the assistence of the Catron County sheriff who allegedly rode in the bulldozer with a gun in his lap, bladed a 13.5 miles road in the Gila on Forest Service land next to the San Francisco river. The road crosses the river at least 47 times according to the Forest Service, and is within designated critical habitat for the loach minnow. Additionally, while bulldozing the road, the county crossed several parcels of private land, which upset the landowners. The county claims they have jurisdiction over this area, but it has historically been managed by the Forest Service and the county has not established a valid claim on the land.

Recently, Mr. Pearce attended an event in the Lincoln National Forest where he assisted in logging an acre of Forest Service land. This event was billed as “emergency fire prevention.”  Pearce secured a permit from the Forest Service at the last minute, but he was planning on attending the event even without a permit, which would have made his actions illegal. He also praised an Otero County sheriff who threatened arrest to any Forest Service employee who tried to interfere with the event.

As Mr. Pearce continues his rhetoric, more events like these will almost surely occur. To date, the rest of New Mexico’s Congressional delegation has refrained from speaking out against Pearce’s harmful advocacy, and have not countered the misleading statements he regularly makes. We believe the time has come for other elected officials to stand up for New Mexico’s public lands, and for federal agencies to vigorously enforce federal law.

Read more about Pearce’s call to destroy public lands.

Read about his attack on wildlife.

Mexican wolf to be reviewed for consideration as an endangered species

Good news for species recovery and health of wild land ecosystems

The Mexican wolf might finally get the attention it deserves.

A federal judge recently approved an agreement that would give the US Fish and Wildlife Service the green light to review the needs of this sub-species for consideration as an endangered species.

Altogether, the agreement includes 900 species, many of which have waited more than two decades for this consideration. The agreement will require decisions to be made by 2018.

The Mexican wolf is a critically important top-predator that helps to keep other species in check and promotes healthy ecosystems around the Southwest. They help protect and restore ecologically functional wild lands and biodiversity within those lands, so their protection as a species is also closely tied to wild lands preservation.

With only 50 remaining Mexican wolves in the wild, including it in the Endangered Species Act would be a huge step in the animal’s recovery. With New Mexico pulling out of recovery efforts just months ago, possible Endangered Species Act protection could be critical to restoration of the Mexican wolf population.

PLUS: Five wolves to be released in northern Mexico

The Mexican government plans to release five Mexican wolves into the state of Sonora. Mexico, along with New Mexico, Arizona and parts of Texas, was part of this animal’s historic range.

The Mexican release is a step in the right direction, as true recovery of the species requires several populations that have connectivity.

The wolves released in Mexico should have full-endangered species protections and should not be restricted in their movements by arbitrary boundaries. 

READ ABOUT WHAT NM WILD IS DOING TO PROTECT THE MEXICAN WOLF

Coalition for Otero Mesa delivers report to Congressional delegates and Obama administration 

In July 2011, the Coalition for Otero Mesa developed a report that details point-by-point how the campaign to save this wild and beautiful grassland fits perfectly into the Obama Administration’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative. Last week the coalition delivered the report to the Obama administration and our congressional delegation in Washington D.C. Read the report.

Wild public lands can cure self importance

By Alan Gregory

The Standard Speaker

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.” The great conservationist, hiker and Sierra Club founder John Muir said that.

Here in Vermont, from which I write, those leaves of autumn have begun turning into the richness of colors for which the Green Mountains are aptly famous. Today’s rain followed by a sharply cooler forecast will further the fall process. Now to find some McIntosh apples.

Actually, several area orchards are already selling apples plucked from trees in the northern Lake Champlain valley. I just haven’t gone scouting for some yet. Sounds like a weekend chore.

Read more