Sedona Jeep School
09-08-2005, 09:36 AM
I attended a forum on the amendment (or, rather, the amendment of the amendment) of the Coconino National Forest Plan, which was last updated in 1987. This is essentially the "constitution" by which the National Forest is managed.
There were only 7 attendees, representing everyone from commercial cowboys to civic representatives to the "let's charge people to breathe air" types.
Two-hours of exuberant (and friendly) discussion boiled down to these three main topics:
1. Communication. Although communication with and among the various users of the forest has improved, it still is pathetically ineffective, and needs to be the most important step, and is also the easiest one to remedy.
2. Education. Most people want to do the right thing. Most people want to maintain the forest for all to enjoy. Many people just don't know what it takes to do that. And, often, they don't even know what they don't know. (See item #1) One person half-jokingly suggested that (no kidding, Devilman) Bud-Light drinking, disposable diaper wearing ATV riders should be banned from the forest. I am not clear what size segment we are dealing with there, but I am NOT suggesting that Devilman wears diapers. :D
3. Enforcement. In the Coconino National Forest, Red Rock Ranger District, we operate under Amendment 12, which is a good document. Virtually all who read Amendement 12 agree that it represents what our forest should be. Unfortuneately, this document is not specific enough in many regards--it uses words like "appropriate" without defining the subject with numerical, measureable values, and, subsequently, has not been actively enforced. All present agreed that it is not necessarily about writing new rules, but about making the ones we already have effective. One person complained about hunters parking in her driveway, ATV's high-balling up the trail behind her house, and people camping and coming and going all night. I pointed out that all of the above activities were already illegal in that particular spot. She said there are NO signs, and when she tries to call authorities, everyone passes the buck. (Again, see item #1.)
So my challenge to y'all is this (for those of you who took the time to read through my post): What can we do as individuals and as a group to facilitate better communication with our public land managers? Let's hear those ideas...?
There were only 7 attendees, representing everyone from commercial cowboys to civic representatives to the "let's charge people to breathe air" types.
Two-hours of exuberant (and friendly) discussion boiled down to these three main topics:
1. Communication. Although communication with and among the various users of the forest has improved, it still is pathetically ineffective, and needs to be the most important step, and is also the easiest one to remedy.
2. Education. Most people want to do the right thing. Most people want to maintain the forest for all to enjoy. Many people just don't know what it takes to do that. And, often, they don't even know what they don't know. (See item #1) One person half-jokingly suggested that (no kidding, Devilman) Bud-Light drinking, disposable diaper wearing ATV riders should be banned from the forest. I am not clear what size segment we are dealing with there, but I am NOT suggesting that Devilman wears diapers. :D
3. Enforcement. In the Coconino National Forest, Red Rock Ranger District, we operate under Amendment 12, which is a good document. Virtually all who read Amendement 12 agree that it represents what our forest should be. Unfortuneately, this document is not specific enough in many regards--it uses words like "appropriate" without defining the subject with numerical, measureable values, and, subsequently, has not been actively enforced. All present agreed that it is not necessarily about writing new rules, but about making the ones we already have effective. One person complained about hunters parking in her driveway, ATV's high-balling up the trail behind her house, and people camping and coming and going all night. I pointed out that all of the above activities were already illegal in that particular spot. She said there are NO signs, and when she tries to call authorities, everyone passes the buck. (Again, see item #1.)
So my challenge to y'all is this (for those of you who took the time to read through my post): What can we do as individuals and as a group to facilitate better communication with our public land managers? Let's hear those ideas...?