Save Wild Utah!

Supporting and participating in efforts to save the wild lands of Utah has been a pet project of mine for almost a decade now. Utah is one of the most uniquely beautiful, natural places in the world - in my opinion. I've only been to about 33% of the world's countries, but that's still my opinion.

At any rate, for several years now, the Bush Administration has been working to open public lands to private oil and gas leases and drilling. The problem? Some of these lands are archaeologically and geographically sensitive. Most are inaccessible and would require road-building, not to mention the destruction enacted during the actual drilling or even exploration process. The other big problem: many of these locations are within or adjacent to public lands, such as Arches, Canyonlands, and Bryce Canyon National Parks. Others are within BLM public lands -land set aside to remain natural and available to the people, to hold off - if even for a while - the destructive human impact. Keeping these places wild is essential to the American anathema, in reverse. These places are incredible in their geology, history, and their raw beauty - as though a gift from the earth to mankind. (I should say, one of many, but that's a long tangent.)

There are few places in this country where an avid outdooorsperson can enjoy so much - hiking, climbing, rafting, kayaking, mountain climbing, skiing, camping, and best of all - discovery. There is nothing like walking 6 days through various Canyonland trails and stumbling unexpectedly upon a pre-basketweaver civilization ruin, a petroglyph, or a series of pictographs guarding over your path. There are few places, perhaps Alaska is one, in this country in which one is able to go so far off the beaten path that you can see one of the most clear night skies in the country. With the ability to count numerous shooting stars on a clear camping night.

There are no other places like it in the world. These places, which have been set aside by other legislation as a means of protection, should continue being protected as the natural jewels that they are.

And it is an op-ed article by Robert Redford that I noticed this morning which has prompted me to write this post. You can read Robert Redford's op-ed piece here. Support SUWA here.

Full Disclosure: I work for an oil and gas company. That doesn't mean I can't also be a naturalist and support environmental responsibility and ecological preservation. I don't mind being called a tree-hugger at work!