Forest Guardians: Frontline News, No. 42
12/10/98
*******************************
RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: Forest Guardians: Frontline News, No. 42
Source: http://www.fguardians.org, Institute for Global Communications
(IGC),
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: December 10, 1998
====> FOREST SERVICE BLAMES OVERGRAZING ON ELK: COWS GET FREE RIDE
New environmental analysis call for increase in cattle numbers
====> SUIT FILED FOR INFORMATION ON RIO GRANDE, PECOS RIVER
Bureau of Reclamation Claims Forest Guardians Not The 'Public'
====> ANIMAL RIGHTS OFFICE HIT BY GUNFIRE
Santa Fe Police Investigating Shotgun Blast
====> JOIN US FOR OUT THIRD ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY!
Tree Hugger Ball this Friday December 11
<><><><><><>MORE BELOW<><><><><><>
FOREST SERVICE BLAMES OVERGRAZING ON ELK: COWS GET FREE RIDE
New environmental analysis call for increase in cattle numbers
The U.S. Forest Service is blaming southwestern New Mexico's
expanding elk population for ecological damage, echoing the claims of
the livestock industry who view an increase in native wildlife
populations as a threat to their control of public lands and forage.
The recent statement about elk on the Gila national forest comes as
the agency is reviewing 18 different grazing allotments covering
nearly 400,000 acres of land. Instead of calling for a reduction in
livestock numbers, the environmental analysis claim that elk are to
blame for overgrazed streams and watersheds. The agencies claims
contradict dozens of scientific studies which conclude that cattle,
not elk, are the primary cause of overgrazed streams. Most of the
analyses also call for a maintenance of the status quo or an increase
in livestock numbers. Many of the allotments undergoing analyses were
the subject of a recent lawsuit brought by Forest Guardians which
resulted in the removal of livestock from nearly 300 miles of streams
throughout the Gila watershed.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
SUIT FILED FOR INFORMATION ON RIO GRANDE, PECOS RIVER
Bureau of Reclamation Claims Forest Guardians Not The 'Public'
Forest Guardians filed suit on 12/3 seeking the release of hundreds
of public documents that describe the Bureau of Reclamation's ongoing
management of water supplies in the Rio Grande and Pecos River
watersheds. The documents sought will help portray how ongoing
management of water supplies in these two watersheds continues to
harm fish and wildlife in violation of the substantive and procedural
requirements of the Endangered Species Act. Currently over 80% of all
water in both river systems is controlled by irrigation districts
that use the water inefficiently.Twice in the summer of 1998
irrigation diversions depleted the Rio Grande of all its water. In a
stunning move, the Bureau of Reclamation denied Forest Guardians'
request arguing that we did not merit a fee waiver for the
information because our "focus is limited to the interest of a small
select group, rather than the public.' The Bureau thus claimed that
the release of the information would not contribute to public
understanding of river management issues. Forest Guardians is
represented in the suit by Richard Meitz.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
ANIMAL RIGHTS OFFICE HIT BY GUNFIRE
Santa Fe Police Investigating Shotgun Blast
The Santa Fe, New Mexico office of Animal Protection of New Mexico,
Inc. (APNM) was sprayed with gunfire sometime during the night of
Dec. 6. A shotgun blast through the front window of the office
resulted in extensive damage to an interior room. Fortunately, none
of the women who work in the Santa Fe office were present at the
time.
APNM is the state's largest animal rights organization and had just
completed a conference on animal rights issues, attended by about 250
people, over the weekend in Albuquerque. APNM has also been a vocal
proponent of wolf reintroduction, protecting bison and many animal
welfare issues. It is unknown if a particular person or issue was
being targeted or if the gunfire was aimed at the organization as a
whole. The incident was reported to Santa Fe Police, who are now
investigating.
Lisa Jennings, the executive director of APNM, has received two
threatening anonymous letters in recent months. One letter stated:
"Ms. Jennings, you are approaching a point where we will have to hurt
you. We are going to make a concerted effort to kill any wolf
reintroduced in to the wild and poison bison as long as you interfere
with wildlife issues."
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
JOIN US FOR OUT THIRD ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY!
Tree Hugger Ball this Friday December 11
Forest Guardians is hosting our third annual holiday party this
Friday, December 11 from 6-11 pm at Cloudcliff Bakery. There is no
charge to attend but there will be a raffle and a silent auction. We
urge everyone to purchase a raffle ticket to support our continued
defense of the wildlands and wildlife of the Southwest. In addition
to great food, the band Wagogo will be playing it's distinctive world
beat music. The Grand Prize for the raffle is a weeklong stay for two
at the Hotel Santa Fe in Puerto Escondido, Mexico. Second and third
place prizes for the raffle are a cross country ski hut trip and a
raft trip down the Rio Grande. Raffle tickets are $5 and available at
Forest Guardians office or they can be purchased at the party until
8:30. The silent auction will open at 6 and close at 9pm. If you have
any additional questions please call us at 505/988-9126.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>