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© A. Vedder Tackling Radical Ideas that Threaten Your Land LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT All of us who believe in protecting our natural heritage were dismayed when the third-ranking Congressman in the House leadership introduced a bill that came to be known as “the Great Outdoors Giveaway.” It would rescind policies that currently protect more than 60 million acres of national forest and other undeveloped public lands. At a hearing, former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt testified that H.R. 1581 was “the most radical, overreaching attempt to dismantle the architecture of our public land laws that has been proposed in my lifetime.” A second major attack on our natural legacy was an effort to dramatically reduce the already modest funding for the protection of our air, water, land, and wildlife. Those pushing for these deep cuts simultaneously fought to retain the more than $4 billion in annual subsidies enjoyed by the oil industry. Meanwhile, Shell is moving closer to federal authorization to drill in marine mammal-rich waters of the Arctic Ocean. With so much focus on the economy, the upheaval in the Middle East, and other compelling stories, I suspect that very few Americans realize just how far outside the mainstream the House of Representatives has moved. The hard truth is that by the time it recessed in August, the House already had voted 110 times to undermine environmental protections. It has earned a reputation as the most anti-environmental House in congressional history and will be pushing this agenda through the end of 2012. We are responding with a strategic campaign that will help citizens deliver a message to Congress about their opposition to these anti-environmental legislative initiatives. Joining with sportsmen, business people, the recreation community, and others, we are playing a leading role in mobilizing Americans. We are marshaling evidence that investing in public land conservation is smart economic policy, paying off in stronger local economies and jobs. For example, during the August recess, we organized volunteers in some of the WILDERNESS, winner last year of awards from the International Academy of the Visual Arts and Communications Concepts, is published annually by The Wilderness Society. Members also receive a newsletter three times a year. Founded in 1935, The Wilderness Society’s mission is to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. nation’s most conservative congressional districts. At meetings with their representatives, they spoke forcefully about how much they value the natural treasures in their backyards. Perhaps the most important resource we provide is fierce determination. The Wilderness Society’s founders had that 77 years ago, and it has remained a part of our gene pool. Certainly there are days that can be discouraging, but then there are days when I see unmistakable evidence of progress. During the summer I was in Utah and Idaho with county commissioners who traditionally have opposed our efforts to protect wilderness. On those trips, I found that they were open to working with us on positive conservation proposals, including those designating wilderness areas. How did this happen? It happened because these conservative political leaders and their constituents really do care deeply about the land near where they live. It was the natural product of years of one-on-one contact by members of our staff to build trust. When they realized The Wilderness Society genuinely wanted to work with them, and not against them, and that together we could preserve beautiful areas they knew and loved, their attitudes began to change. I hope you will enjoy this issue of Wilderness. You’ll find stories about a man on Cape Cod who sold his land to the National Park Service instead of to a developer and about what migratory birds are telling us about climate change. You’ll meet five up-and-coming environmental leaders and find out what’s going on in the regions where we are most active. New this year is a crossword puzzle. We welcome your reactions to any of these features. William H. Meadows P.S. I can’t thank you enough for your commitment to helping us protect the lands that belong to all Americans. Without your support, this work would be impossible, and we will need to count on you as the fights intensify this fall and into 2012. Editor: Bennett H. Beach (ben_beach@tws.org) Photo Editor: Lisa Dare Design: Studio Grafik Proofreader: Connie Quinley © 2011 by The Wilderness Society, 1615 M St., NW, Washington, DC 20036 www.wilderness.org COVER PHOTO © Tim Fitzharris.com 2 1-800-THE-WILD
Table of Contents 17 The Final Frontier What is at stake if Shell drills off Alaska’s northern coast? By Marilyn Berlin Snell © Steven Kazlowski/AlaskaStock.com 12 “My Favorite Place” Five citizens tell us about theirs 13 Harbingers of Climate Change Bird migration patterns changing with climate change By Mel White 22 Why I Sold My Land to the American People On Cape Cod, a campground operator put the public first By Kathy Shorr 26 Skiing in Wilderness Wonderlands As winter nears, here are ten backcountry skiing gems By David Goodman 30 The Bob and I, Under the Big Sky An essay by Ivan Doig 32 Does Nature Affect Your Behavior? A Q&A with Dr. Frances E. Kuo 32 Wilderness At Risk A photo essay features eight treasures that are in jeopardy This magazine was printed on 30-percent-postconsumer-waste-recycled, elemental chlorine-free paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. As a result, we used 196 fewer trees than we would have if printing on virgin paper. We also reduced our electricity consumption by 79 million BTUs, water use by 88,854 gallons, solid waste by 5,632 pounds, and greenhouse gas emissions by 19,704 pounds. (Environmental impact estimates were made using the Environmental Defense Fund Paper Calculator. For more information, visit http://www.edf.org/papercalculator/ www.wilderness.org The Wilderness Society meets all standards as set forth by the Better Business Bureau/Wise Giving Alliance. 44 © Dave Showalter 42 Building an Army of Young Conservation Leaders We are training a corps for the future By Hannah Nordhaus 44 Too Wild to Drill Will rigs, roads and pipelines sprout south of Yellowstone? By Dave Showalter 47 Wilderness Investors with a Long-Term View Barbara and Bert Cohn are philanthropic champions 48 Everyone in the Car! How those summertime national park trips shaped our views By Susan Rugh 52 On Safari in the Bodie Hills This California treasure is this year’s “great place to visit” By David Page 58 my wilderness Frontier Airlines and its spokesanimals have taken up the cause By Tashia Tucker DEPARTMENTS 4 Past Year’s Achievements 6 News from the Regions 51 Poetry 60 Wilderness Heroes 61 Crossword Puzzle 3
Page 1: Migratory birds tell climate change
Page 5 and 6: ENERGY: We secured greater protecti
Page 7 and 8: IDAHO In 2009, climaxing an eight-y
Page 9 and 10: © Erin Paul Donovan Our coalition
Page 11 and 12: Harbingers of Climate Change Acreek
Page 13 and 14: On the highest mountains in the Nor
Page 15 and 16: The Final Frontier By Marilyn Berli
Page 17 and 18: © Patrick J. Endres/AlaskaPhotoGra
Page 19 and 20: © Steven Kazlowski/AlaskaStock.com
Page 21 and 22: Currier’s uncle spent the winter
Page 23 and 24: commitment to conservation was outs
Page 25 and 26: © Howie Garber a story: Following
Page 27 and 28: © © Bradly J. Boner Skiers and ot
Page 29 and 30: © Jeff L. Fox camp, miles hiked pe
Page 31 and 32: Getting people out in these spaces
Page 33 and 34: It is now open season on open space
Page 35 and 36: www.wilderness.org Aravaipa Canyon
Page 37 and 38: © Darren Huski www.wilderness.org
Page 39 and 40: © Tom Till www.wilderness.org East
Page 41 and 42: © Sean Babbington Building an Army
Page 43 and 44: © Caara Fritz BEN GREUEL, SIERRA C
Page 45 and 46: Noble Basin, about 40 miles south o
Page 47 and 48: Member Profile Wilderness Investors
Page 49 and 50: © Eric Mohl ten-year Mission 66 pr
Page 51 and 52: Wildsong Edited by John Daniel Desi
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www.wilderness.org 53
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Complex. Because of the primeval na
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Bodie Hills Visitor Information Bod
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© Lynn Donaldson my wilderness has
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Conservation Enthusiast CROSSWORD P
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A Tribute to David Getches David Ge
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