Western Landscapes Shortchanged Due to Emphasis on Drilling
Tucked into the southwestern corner of Colorado, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument features the highest density of archaeological sites in the nation. “Unfortunately, vandalism of these treasures is an ongoing problem, and with only one law enforcement officer covering 160,000 acres, there’s no way to prevent it,” says The Wilderness Society’s Wendy Van Asselt. “To cite just one example, last year vandals dug extensively around a pueblo that is a national historic register site.”
Inadequate staffing is pervasive at Canyons of the Ancients. There is no full-time position for trail maintenance, reclamation, or visitor services. “This national monument's Anasazi Heritage Center has an astonishing collection of more than three million pieces,” notes Van Asselt, “But there is hardly any staff to care for these treasures, catalogue them, or explain them to 23,000 annual visitors, ranging from school groups to researchers.”
Canyons of the Ancients is part of the National Landscape Conservation System—26 million acres of historic and wild public lands in the West. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is responsible for the care of these special places but has less than $2 an acre to carry out that duty. “The BLM is pouring money into oil and gas drilling elsewhere in its domain, leaving almost no funds for the protection of the Conservation System,” says Van Asselt, who directs our work on these lands.
The damaging results can be found throughout this system. “Construction debris, cars, bikes, and household appliances are dumped routinely at Sonoran Desert, Agua Fria, and Ironwood Forest, three stunning national monuments in Arizona,” says Pamela Eaton, who oversees The Wilderness Society’s BLM Action Center in Denver. “Over the past two years, 12 tons of trash were removed at Sonoran Desert alone. That is a sad commentary.” Because the BLM is unable to provide adequate resources, The Wilderness Society has supported local partners such as Friends of Agua Fria, Arizona Wilderness Coalition, and San Juan Citizens Alliance, who organize volunteer projects to try to plug gaps.
“Citizens can help by urging their representatives in Congress to boost the budget for the Conservation System--particularly for cultural and natural resource protection, sound science, and rangers,” says Van Asselt. “We also want Congress to pass a bill making the system permanent. It was created in 2000 by Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt and needs a congressional stamp of approval to ensure consistent funding and management for all these extraordinary places.”
With rapid growth in the West, recreational use of some areas has tripled since the system was established. “For many people seeking a high-quality outdoor experience, these places have become a less crowded alternative to national parks,” Eaton explains. “Congress needs to provide enough funding to keep up with this escalating use.” To learn more about the National Landscape Conservation System, visit: www.wilderness.org/OurIssues/Monuments.
