February 16, 2011

Contact:

Brian O’Donnell, (970) 903 0276 (cell); (970) 903-0276

Gary Kozel, (202) 412-1044

Westerners Encouraged by President’s

“America’s Great Outdoors" Conservation Agenda

DURANGO, CO February 16, 2011–Western land users and conservationists expressed their support for the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative announced by President Obama today. The announcement by the White House included actions that the Administration will take to protect open space and public lands.

“I thank the President for giving all American’s the opportunity to voice their opinion about the future of our public lands,” said Lahsha Brown, a resident of Arizona. “There is a limited window of opportunity to protect our nations wide open spaces and history and I am encouraged that President Obama is looking out for our kids and grandkids.” said Brown.

Brown is a member of Friends of Ironwood Forest National Monument in Arizona, an area set aside through use of the Antiquities Act in 2000. The Monument protects a desert ecosystem, full of archeological resources, rugged mountains and essential habitat for bighorn sheep.

Conservationists were especially pleased that the America’s Great Outdoors Report noted an important conservation tool, the Antiquities Act. Since it was first used by President Teddy Roosevelt in 1906, the Antiquities Act has been utilized (most recently by George W. Bush) to protect our Nation’s most recognizable public treasures from the Grand Canyon to the Statue of Liberty. Dozens ofNational Parks and National Conservation Lands were protected through use of the Antiquities Act as a means to conserve important natural features and historic artifacts.

“As our population is growing, we are seeing more looting and vandalism of petroglyphs, rock art and Native American artifacts,” said Nancy Hall a resident of Mesquite, NV and President of Friends of Gold Butte. “Once these historic treasures are gone they can never be replaced” said Hall. “I am hopeful that the Administration will use the America’s Great Outdoors process to protect the unmatched beauty and threatened artifacts of Gold Butte.”

Gold Butte is an unprotected area east of Las Vegas, NV managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Due to the lack of ranger presence or monitoring, visitors are locating remote petroglyphs using GPS units which is resulting in increased looting and vandalism.

“Those of us in the West who value our public lands for the hunting and fishing opportunities, clean water and open spaces that they provide are looking forward to working with the Obama Administration to see these areas safeguarded for the future,” said Brian O’Donnell, Executive Director of the Conservation Lands Foundation in Durango, CO.

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The Conservation Lands Foundation is the only organization dedicated solely to conserving the 28 million acres found in the National Conservation Lands. The Foundation’s mission is to protect, restore, and expand the National Conservation Lands through education, advocacy, and partnerships. For more information, visit conservationlands.org.

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