Keep it Public
Americans around the country will raise their voices to keep public lands in public hands
Barely two months after the last armed occupier was removed from the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, bird enthusiasts returned in record numbers for a 35-year tradition.
The annual Harney County Migratory Bird Festival in early April, timed during the height of the spring sandhill crane, waterfowl and shorebird migration along the Pacific Flyway, is a signature event that draws hundreds of visitors and is vital to the local economy. These bird lovers, like the vast majority of Americans, deeply appreciate the values provided by America’s public lands.
Had the authorities not acted to halt the destructive 41-day, Bundy-led occupation — which will cost taxpayers more than $6 million — these folks would have been denied their right to enjoy the lands we all own. They wouldn’t have had the opportunity to see more than 100 species of birds and they wouldn’t have filled hotel rooms and contributed to the $15 million in annual economic activity the refuge brings to Harney County.
Next week, as we mark the 46th anniversary of Earth Day, let’s make this tradition even more special by visiting a national park, national forest or wildlife refuge and embrace our singularly American ideal of public lands for all.
The Malheur armed extremists — now facing criminal charges — are joined by a powerful cadre of politicians and the business interests they front. Their goal: to seize America’s public lands for private exploitation, sold to the highest bidder to be logged, mined, drilled, fracked, bulldozed and developed.
More than 307 million visitors experienced America’s national parks last year, from Acadia to Yosemite, depositing billions of dollars into local economies. These national forests, wildlife refuges, parks, grasslands and deserts are havens for wildlife, sources for clean air and water, and inspirational retreats for generations of Americans, the majority of whom oppose selling off or giving up control of the lands they all own.
A 2016 Colorado College poll of seven Western states, where the conversation about privatizing our public lands never rests, found that 60 percent of residents oppose handing public lands over to state control.
But despite consistent results showing that Western Americans believe strongly in public ownership of these lands, elected officials are hard at work at the state and federal levels to ignore our wishes.
Several odious bills on Capitol Hill, steered by Utah Reps. Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz and others, seek to weaken federal authority over our lands and hand over America’s public lands to private interests. The same is true at the local level, where lawmakers funded by Koch brothers’ franchises such as the American Lands Council and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) have been infiltrating statehouses with similar plans.
This Earth Week, as we celebrate what is beautiful and shared about America, let’s send a message that “We, the People,” own our public lands and we don’t intend to let anybody take them away. Let’s say no to the extremists who, not satisfied with government subsidies for their logging, mining and fossil fuel businesses, want the right to plunder and destroy them and leave the bill for the cleanup to you.
Take time this week to visit your favorite national park, forest, grasslands or wildlife refuge. Take part in or host your own event to celebrate and protect our public lands, sign this petition telling Washington that you value your national heritage, and change your Facebook profile to show you love public lands.
Don’t take these special places for granted. The threat is real. Stand up now and protect your public lands.
Randi Spivak is director of the Public Lands program at the Center for Biological Diversity.
