Montana Wilderness News: Editorials

Sally Mauk: For new wilderness to succeed, next generation must have interest

Missoulian
Sally Mauk
Friday, July 16, 2010

missoulian.com

Sally Mauk: For new wilderness to succeed, next generation must have interest

By SALLY MAUK
for the Missoulian | Posted: Friday, July 16, 2010 9:30 pm

In another life, I was a wilderness ranger, and to this day
there's a certain trail in a certain wilderness where I am most at
peace with myself and with the world.

Working locally, working together

Missoulian
By Roy Jacobs, Karl Rappold and Nine Co-Signers
Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Although the conservation challenges facing others across
Montana vary, the fact remains that grassroots efforts have sprung
up where folks have chosen to set aside their differences and work
together. They say all politics is local and that's certainly the
level where the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act originated. The
compromises and agreements forged by the many folks involved were
done so in an open fashion, through years of hard work, lengthy
debate, and input from many different types of people.

Chronicle editorial: Forest bill a fragile compromise worth saving

Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Editorial
Wednesday, June 16, 2010

A deal's a deal.

That's the message Montana Sen. Jon Tester has for the U.S. Senate
Energy and Natural Resources Committee. And, in reality, he has
little choice.

Tester's forest bill came out of a delicate compromise among
diverse forest user groups. It would create some 600,000 acres of
wilderness - mostly here in Southwest Montana. But it would also
set aside areas for motorized recreation and require the logging of
10,000 acres of forest in each of the next 10 years.

ASUM excited about Tester forest proposal

Missoulian
Matt Fennell
Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Recently, a committed group of conservationists came together to
passionately discuss Sen. Jon Tester's Forest Jobs and Recreation
Act. The energy and excitement surrounding this legislation is
nothing short of inspiring.

Guest opinion: Old school ideas don’t cut it in Montana forests

Billings Gazette
Daphne Herling
Saturday, February 27, 2010

There are those who believe in the old school way of doing
things and those of us who believe in a new way of doing
things.

Unfortunately for Montana's forests and the people who depend on
them, the old school way of doing things hasn't worked out so well.
Years ago, even mainstream conservation groups like the Montana
Wilderness Association were at war with the timber industry.
Because of years of fighting, neither side got what they wanted.
Nobody won. And everyone paid the price.

Letter: Secrecy claim not true, but the bare-knuckled debate is just Montana's brand of politics.

New West
Pat WIlliams, Guest Writer
Wednesday, February 24, 2010

The current public wrangling about Senator Jon Tester's jobs and
wilderness legislation heralds the many opinions about land use and
protection policies. Perhaps somewhat disguised at the moment, but in a
very real way, this heated debate represents a celebration of the
passion we Montanans hold for the land and waters.

Tester's forest jobs bill: Bill is true collaborative effort

The Western News
Bruce Farling
Thursday, January 14, 2010

When Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester introduced his Forest Jobs and Recreation Act last July, he did something that is all too uncommon in today’s political world. He kept a promise.

He’d told conservationists, loggers and recreationists that if they could reach agreement on contentious issues involving public lands – including wilderness designation, deciding where logging and habitat restoration is appropriate, and, most importantly, getting popular support for their ideas – he’d introduce a bill to help implement their vision.

Guest Opinion: A conservationist's wish list for the new year

Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Jeff Welsch
Sunday, January 10, 2010

The economy might have soured in 2009, but the world’s love of Yellowstone National Park certainly didn’t. Despite thinning pocketbooks and growing anxieties — or perhaps because of both — a record-shattering 3.3 million people visited the world’s first national park. The lesson here is that whether the economy is bullish or bearish, Yellowstone is a magical place where people of all backgrounds can restore their spirit.

Guest Opinion: Stalemates must end over Montana forests

Missoulian
Robert Johnson
Tuesday, January 5, 2010

In a recent guest opinion (Missoulian, Nov. 9), Paul Edwards calls Sen. Jon Tester’s bill “a federal welfare program for the forest products industry” in the state of Montana. Edwards is far from right. Tester’s bill is not an act to save a few mills but is a necessary step toward better forest management.

Editorial: Only a balanced forest bill will fly

Billings Gazette
Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Since Sen. Jon Tester introduced his Forest Jobs and Recreation Act in July, it has been praised as the first legislation in two decades to bring Montana wilderness advocates and logging advocates together. It also has been criticized by people on both sides of the public-lands debate who want more or less than the proposal would provide.

The bill, which deals exclusively with portions of national forests in Western Montana, had a Senate Energy Committee hearing earlier this month.