400 Scientists: Details Missing from National Forest Management Act
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Details, details, details. More than 400 scientists and about 300,000 lay people from across the country are asking for more "details" in the National Forest Management Act. The public comment period ended Monday, and New Mexico Congressman Martin Heinrich is echoing the call for specifics. He says the act gets praise for much of its content, but that wildlife and water decision-making guidelines in the plan are vague, rather than tied to the best available science.
"The proposal goes in the wrong direction by rolling back long-standing protections for wildlife in particular, and not providing sufficient direction to the agency for ensuring water quality."
A chief complaint is that concrete guidelines are missing for buffer zones around water and for maintenance of wildlife across their ranges. Instead, the plan uses a "take it into account" approach.
Congressman Heinrich says there's a direct connection to almost every resident of the state when it comes to water and wildlife management.
"Thousands of working families across my home state count on our big game herds for both recreation and nutrition, and hunters and anglers across the state, and from around the country, contribute enormously to our state's economy."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that national forests provide drinking water for about 124 million Americans, and the land is connected to 223,000 jobs, mostly in rural areas.
New Mexico has about 1.5 million acres of national forests and grasslands. The final rule is expected to go on the books by the end of this year.
The letter from scientists is posted at ht.ly/4VShv. USDA statistics on jobs and water are at ht.ly/4VSp2 and ht.ly/4VSqI
get more stories like this via email
Social Issues
Mississippi prisons often lack resources to treat people who are incarcerated with substance-use disorders adequately but a nonprofit organization is …
Social Issues
April is Second Chance Month and many Nebraskans are celebrating passage of a bipartisan voting rights restoration bill and its focus on second chance…
Health and Wellness
New Mexico saw record enrollment numbers for the Affordable Care Act this year and is now setting its sights on lowering out-of-pocket costs - those n…
Social Issues
Residents in a rural North Carolina town grappling with economic challenges are getting a pathway to homeownership. In Enfield, the average annual …
Social Issues
A new poll finds a near 20-year low in the number of voters who say they have a high interest in the 2024 election, with a majority saying they hold …
Social Issues
A case before the U.S. Supreme Court could have implications for the country's growing labor movement. Justices will hear oral arguments in Starbucks …