November 2005, Newsletter #4
Welcome to the
THE RED LODGE CLEARINGHOUSE,
the full-service information source for collaborative groups
throughout the Interior west committed to resolving resource-use
conflicts. The encouragement of public participation in the planning
and monitoring of public land uses is central to our work—and to
the work of the agencies. A look at some recent developments follows:
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FWS says tiger salamander protections would cost $336M
GREENWIRE, 10/26/05
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently released an "opportunity cost" accounting report on a bottom-line way of dealing with the beleaguered California Salamander. See earlier views on natural resource accounting reflecting a position held by some notable economists.
SEE FULL STORY >>
HERMAN DALY FAREWELL SPEECH >>
ECOLOGICAL ECONOMIST PUTS A PRICE TAG ON NATURE >>
Rethinking habitat conservation for endangered wildlife
MICHAEL BEAN, ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE
If there is any self-evident proposition in wildlife conservation, it is that without habitat, conservation efforts are futile. Thus, it is no surprise that the loss or degradation of habitat is the single most important cause of wildlife endangerment.
READ MORE >>
Keystone Center hosts ESA working group
At the request of six U.S. Senators, the Keystone Center will facilitate two
meetings of endangered species act experts. Attendees will address
the ESA's current ability to protect and conserve habitat for listed
species and how the ESA might be improved to better help species recover.
READ MORE >>
Report: Public lands grazing costs $123 million a year
JENNIFER TALHELM, CASPER STAR-TRIBUNE (AP) 11/01/05
Federal agencies lose at least $123 million a year keeping public lands open to livestock grazing, according to a government report that environmentalists say bolsters their argument that grazing should be limited.
SEE FULL STORY >>
National forest trying 'green' logging
JEFF BARNARD, CASPER STAR-TRIBUNE (AP), 10/31/05
Private timber companies have been getting "green" certifications for the past decade to boost sales among consumers who want to be assured that forests are not harmed by producing the lumber they buy.
Now the U.S. Forest Service, battered by court battles over balancing logging against fish and wildlife habitat, is looking into it.
SEE FULL STORY >>
Forest chief drops term ‘wilderness' from map
MICHAEL JAMISON, THE MISSOULIAN 10/21/05
Bob Castaneda has soured on wilderness.
Not the idea of it, mind you, just the word itself.
Seems every time the Kootenai National Forest supervisor uttered the word, someone was ready to ram it back down his throat.
“Wilderness,” Castaneda said, had become a “conflict word.”
So he changed it.
SEE FULL STORY >>
MONTANA WILDERNESS ASSOCIATION COMMENTS >>
"If you are waiting for the perfect bill, it does not exist"—Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson
CHRISTOPHER SMITH, THE OREGONIAN (AP) 10/22/05
Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, is sponsoring a measure to protect 300,000 acres in central Idaho while opening another 130,000 acres of federal land for logging, off-road vehicles and other development.
The bill is meeting resistance from interest groups from both ends of the motorized-use spectrum.
SEE FULL STORY >>
READ MORE ABOUT THE CENTRAL IDAHO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND RECREATION ACT >>
Environmental studies waived in oil push
JOHN HEILPRIN, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER (AP) 10/18/05
In an aggressive push by the Bush administration to open more public land to oil and gas production, the Interior Department has quit conducting environmental reviews and seeking comments from local residents every time drilling companies propose new wells.
SEE FULL STORY >>
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