Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (August 8, 2014) – Last week, the Center for Biological Diversity filed an appeal of the Gila National Forest’s travel management plan.  The CBD claimed that the plan “imperiled frogs, fish, and birds” by allowing off-road vehicles to use 3,000 miles of roads.  The Gila National Forest plan sets aside 24% of its land for non-motorized use and increasing this percentage will limit public access for recreational activity.

Congressional Western Caucus Co-Chairs Steve Pearce (NM-02) and Cynthia Lummis (WY-At Large) released the following statements in response to the announcement:

“Once again, the Center for Biological Diversity is suing to restrict citizens from accessing their national forests,” said Chairman Pearce. “Just recently the Gila National Forest announced a travel management plan that closed hundreds of miles of trails and roads. The Center for Biological Diversity decided that their lawyers should have the exclusive right to dictate where citizens can go in the Gila National Forest. Their self-serving actions will jeopardize tourism in Western New Mexico, calling into question radical environmental groups’ constant declarations that sectioning off our lands will create tourism jobs. There is no tourism without access.”

“National Forests are multiple-use public lands designed to accommodate a variety of uses and Gila National Forest in New Mexico is no different,” said Chairman Lummis.  “We must curtail attempts like this to undermine the multiple-use ideals upon which these lands were established.  Proper public land management requires balance, including consideration of the needs of those who live near the land.”