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BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK

BORDER TO BORDER FULL BENEFITS
OF MULTIPLE USE ON PUBLIC LANDS

The march of the motorhomes is now an almost year round part of our lives. Disposable income and early retirement have created a tourism clientele that goes beyond the once common SUMMER vacation. States with public lands are the destination of millions of Americans year after year.

Despite the crowded campgrounds, and lines of traffic the reality is that many more millions of Americans HAVE NOT and WILL NEVER see the public lands on anything other then a postcard or TV documentary.

Fortunately for them, the Multiple Use & Sustained Yield Act of 1960 will continue to deliver the benefits of public lands to their doorsteps and into their homes. This legislation applies to National Forests and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. It does not apply to the National Park system.

The fussing and fuming that constantly surrounds the use of public lands is punctuated with 'bumper sticker' phrases such as……..this land belongs to everyone. Yes----that is the point! The word everyone means those Americans who come to see the lands with their very own eyes, ears, and tourist dollars. However, it also means those Americans who consume the reasonably priced value added products made from the natural resources on public lands.

The full circle of what multiple use really means is: people coming to the public lands and the public lands being brought to the people in every corner of this nation. It is this full circle concept which actually creates the balance we waste so much time arguing over and pretending to want.

Balance and fairness in the use of public lands find their origins in genuine respect for another American's rights under the laws. Ignoring the laws that we don't like has only resulted in frustration and polarization among citizens. Many folks don't like the Multiple Use & Sustained Yield Act from whence comes the term 'multiple use'. They have contempt for any thing with a commercial or industrial flavor. They advocate shame for that terrific part of our nation's legacy that has set a world standard for achievement. That same national legacy is one that will continue to include learning from past mistakes and teaching younger generations how to do things better. It is this Legacy of Learning that our nation owes younger generations. It is a legacy of which to be proud.

Public land managers of multiple use lands are in a perfect position to continually educate the increasingly urban public on the connection between raw materials and value-added products. Part of their management responsibility is to view this educational process as equally important as the strong environmental laws that appropriately protect the public land resources. It is unfair to expect the general public to automatically see the connections of such public policy implementation.

This educational process is a leadership opportunity for public resource managers. Too often they embrace the bumper sticker phrase---we're in the difficult position of being in the middle of different public opinions. It's a matter of positioning really. These agency professionals need to remember that you cannot lead from the middle. The leadership position is being proudly out in front of the discussion with the educational message. That message is all about bringing the public lands to every corner of this nation. Not reserving these lands for those fortunate enough to come and see them.

We are a highly consuming nation. The luxury of such consumption carries with it a national responsibility to bear part of the burden for producing that which is consumed. It is unethical and 'colonial' to look to other nations for the raw materials to manufacture the products of our comfortable lifestyle. Public land managers have a wonderful opportunity to help develop a better consumer mindset that thinks about degree of consumption and the responsibilities of consumption. Our nation needs this leadership now more then ever.

We owe it to all of our futures to make certain that the United States matures as a nation, and not simply ages as a nation. The gift of a Legacy of Learning will guarantee that.

Permission granted to reprint in full or part with full credit given to author.