Western New Mexico Whitewater-Baldy Fire in Gila |
In a bizarre twist, the wilderness crowd, obsessed with clean air and protecting wildlife, has taken it upon itself to make it extremely difficult for ranchers in the entire Gila National Forest and wilderness areas to renew grazing leases on land there. Sure, cattle reduce underbrush fuel loads as they eat, but what about the pristine untouched forest? We can't have any cow poop up there. No sir. Securing the “wilderness” designation of countless square miles in the Gila area many years ago has also made sure no mechanized vehicles can enter the area to do any underbrush clearing.
Now that we have managed to get the government to suspend all range and forest management science to keep it "pristine," how is this approach working out for us?
Well......um.....If you are walking around outside just about anywhere in the state of New Mexico you might have noticed we suddenly have the dirtiest air in memory. It seems that the latest wildfire in and around the Gila, which has been bolstered by unprecedented underbrush fuel load, has incinerated enough forest to make breathing the smoke outside unhealthy in many counties. Toasted wildlife is another feature of these bad forest policy assisted fires. We will spare you those pictures.
Well......um.....If you are walking around outside just about anywhere in the state of New Mexico you might have noticed we suddenly have the dirtiest air in memory. It seems that the latest wildfire in and around the Gila, which has been bolstered by unprecedented underbrush fuel load, has incinerated enough forest to make breathing the smoke outside unhealthy in many counties. Toasted wildlife is another feature of these bad forest policy assisted fires. We will spare you those pictures.
Bad forest management policy has become one of the crowning disachievements of the radical environmentalist’s long list of absurd "causes." They seek clean air, we get dirty air. They seek wildlife protection, we get toasted wildlife. They seek to bankrupt the ranchers that supply our food, well you get the picture.
There is more sobering news. These same people have been working hand in hand with Martin Heinrich, Tom Udall, Ben Ray Lujan, and Jeff Bingaman to work their public policy magic on U.S. energy supplies.
One question goes unanswered. With “friends of the earth” like these, who needs enemies?
One question goes unanswered. With “friends of the earth” like these, who needs enemies?