Letter from the President
One More Reason to Save Wilderness
William H. Meadows
One More Reason to Save Wilderness
Fall has arrived. Like many of you, I have a special feeling for this time of year. One reason is the brilliance of fall foliage. These days, when I admire such scenes, an additional thought comes to mind: These trees are also doing duty in our fight against global warming. American forests absorb about 10 percent of the carbon dioxide that the United States produces.
Another benefit of preserving forests and other large natural areas is that wildlife populations are less likely to be isolated as conditions change. Being able to migrate across a protected landscape gives species a better chance to adapt and survive.
In other words, the work that The Wilderness Society has been doing for the past 72 years is more important than ever. While we press ahead with our conservation mission, some of our ecologists, GIS specialists, economists, and other professionals are devoting time to advancing knowledge of the relationship between land conservation and climate change. We also are beefing up our efforts to educate the public, which knows little about this link.
With the turning of the leaves comes the home stretch of this session of Congress. For wilderness and wildlife, it has been a good year on Capitol Hill -- so far. Working closely with a number of allies, we have made progress in shifting funds away from oil and gas drilling and other development programs and into the protection of wildlife, healthy watersheds, national parks, and other natural resources. We also played an active role in shaping energy legislation that can move the country away from reliance on fossil fuels and toward greater use of renewable sources. Most of these bills have yet to cross the finish line. This is the time of year when lawmakers reconcile differences between bills passed by the House of Representatives and Senate, so our staff has important work to do before Congress heads home for the holidays.
Another top priority on our legislative agenda this fall is passage of bills that would permanently protect some of our country's spectacular wilderness. We believe that there is a good chance Congress will create wilderness areas in Washington's Cascade Range and in Rocky Mountain National Park. The photo essay beginning on page 32 of this issue features a number of the places that Congress is considering as additions to the National Wilderness Preservation System.
Our success continues to depend on your commitment and support. Thank you for all that you do to make sure that future generations will inherit this nation's unsurpassed natural legacy.
-- William H. Meadows
Photo of Bill Meadows courtesy Tom Barron.
