New Mexico Wild, along with partner organizations The Wilderness Society, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, WildEarth Guardians, and The Center for Biological Diversity, has filed an objection with the U.S. Forest Service regarding the final revised Land Management Plan, Final Environmental Impact Statement, and Draft Record of Decision for the Gila National Forest.
Our objection focuses on two key areas:
- Recommended wilderness areas suitable for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System
- Stream segments eligible for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System
We believe the planning process and substance of these documents fail to comply with relevant laws, regulations, and policies governing these important designations. Our objection aims to ensure stronger protections for Wilderness-quality lands and wild and scenic rivers within the Gila National Forest.
Specific concerns include:
- Inadequate recommended Wilderness acreage
- Flawed evaluation criteria for Wilderness recommendations
- Incomplete analysis of eligible wild and scenic river segments
Through this objection, we seek to improve the Gila National Forest Land Management Plan to better conserve the area’s exceptional wilderness and river resources for future generations.