Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Ravenscroft. Senator McClure, for the record, my name is Vern Ravenscroft. I hold a degree in range and forest management from the University of Idaho. My business and public service expe rience has been resource oriented. From this training and experi ence, I propose very limited additions to the wilderness system and a firm rededication to mulitple use management of Idaho public lands. I will elaborate and document my concerns in written testimony. For now, I would summarize that it is my firm conviction that any special use or dominant use designations will only serve to appease the benefited few and penalize a far greater number of Idaho citi zens and the Nation. In general, I firmly believe in responsible multiple use manage ment of our public lands. We do not need logging sanctuaries, energy parks, motorbike reservations, or left-handed fly fisherman ponds. We need policies, law, and administration capable of amalgamat ing all of those special interests, in combination with the one pre dominant value of any Idaho wildland — that of watershed protec tion. I therefore urge the Senate committee to emphasize the responsi ble multiple use management of Idaho forests. Additions to the ex isting extensive wilderness system should be limited to: One, ad ministrative boundary adjustment; Two, legitimate limited carefully selected ecosystems which are not yet represented in that system. The act of duplicating, triplicating, and quadruplicating an iso lated area inventory would be a serious disservice to our State. There are multiple use opportunities in the most remote corners of Idaho. For example, the universal watershed needs which could be ruined by natural fire wilderness philosophy, recreation for large numbers of people, roadless recreation, hydro energy and grazing, without ever mentioning the usual whipping boys of logging and mineral exploration. The challenge and the opportunity is multiple use success and multiple use discipline, not special use privilege. Thank you.