Just heard about a new executive order to return national monuments (federal lands) to state control. Opening them up for development, oil and natural gas exploration, and timber harvest. I know federal lands are harvested and grazed, but this new order will change (lessen) the procedures and probably increase the limits of use. Going from federal "interference " to allowing the individual states to decide what to do with these lands, including selling them to private energy and development corporations.
Am am I being a paranoid or is the the first step on the very slippery slope of returning federally protected lands to developers ?
I am very concerned about short term business gains overshadowing the long term management and preservation of our natural resources. (A big part of what makes America great)
not trying to be an alarmist, but so much energy has been put into preservation, just to be swept away. This has me very concerned. How much AT andPCT lands will be directly affected? Early days, but this has me deeply concerned 😳