On Earth Day, Report Finds a Patch of "Original Earth" in Trouble in CO
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Denver, CO - An Earth Day report by the Campaign for America's Wilderness finds that some of the wilderness areas of the country are in trouble, and one of those spots is right here in Colorado.
Jim Riddell, a volunteer with the Friends of Greater Dominguez, says the Dominguez Canyon country near Grand Junction is one of the more interesting parts of the state that is in need of protection.
"It's beautiful, intimate, spectacular and right close to a population center."
Dominguez Canyon is one of ten "Treasures in Trouble" spotlighted in the Campaign for America's Wildernessreport. Riddell and others have been working to protect the area for many years; he says the wilderness is threatened by population growth and an even more rapid growth in off-road vehicle use.
Mike Matz, who heads the Campaign, says that kind of volunteer effort is what preserves wild areas for future generations, and what Earth Day is all about.
"They're really heroes, they go out and they talk to the city councilors and the county commissioners, and that just percolates its way up to members of Congress."
Mike Matz says the slogan "Every Day is Earth Day" is especially relevant when it comes to the need to protect our remaining wilderness.
"It sounds unbelievable, but experts tell us that we lose 6,000 acres of open space every single day."
To view the full report online, visit www.leaveitwild.org.
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