Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

(joined by mothers and children). I am representing the 260 members of the Ada County Chapter of the Idaho Conser vation League and I am speaking on behalf of myself and these other mothers. We want to convey to you our love for the wilderness and our desire to see a portion of it preserved for our children to enjoy. We want to have a wilderness core, protection from encroach ment by the mining and logging users. We are not asking you to designate more wilderness, just to preserve the existing wilderness core of at least 2 million acres that is proposed by the conservation coalition. We would also like to encourage Senator McClure to support soft release language rather than hard or permanent release. The 1976 National Forest Management Act allows an area which has been previously designated nonwilderness but has remained roadless, undeveloped, and of wilderness quality to be reconsidered as wil derness during later planning. We think we should keep this option and see no conflict in allow ing for this possibility in change of designation. We oppose quick passage of a wilderness bill as urged by the forest products industry. We see no need to make decisions of this magnitude in haste and with inadequate investigations of future ramifications. We want our children to experience the immenseness and immu tability of nature, to feel the beauty and serenity of the forest, to have reverence for the vastness of unspoiled wilderness that always has been and forever will be something greater than ourselves. The Chairman. Thank you very much. Ms. Estes. Thank you. (Applause.)