| Welcome to Wild Connections |
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| Fall hiking, photo by Roman Boergerding |
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| Wild Connections, a science-based advocacy organization, works to identify, protect and restore lands of the Upper Arkansas and South Platte watersheds to ensure the survival of native species and ecological richness. We focus on designing, implementing and defending the Wild Connections Conservation Plan - a vision for the future of this region that embodies the results of many years of roadless area mapping, citizen input and conservation science.
Conserving biodiversity requires networks of people protecting networks of wildlands. Our programs involve people from all walks of life in proactive strategies, connections with wildlands and practical advocacy. We invite you to join in this effort.
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| Wild Connections works in the mountain headwaters region of the South Platte and Arkansas Rivers. |
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| Draft Colorado Roadless Rule |
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| Salt Creek Roadless Area. |
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The public comment period on the proposed rule for managing Colorado's valued public roadless lands is now closed. Thanks to the many individuals and organizations who sent comments. At last count 140,000 had been received by the Forest Service.
The conservation community, including Wild Connections, submitted detailed comments. Our analysis revealed many flaws in the Draft Rule which would give great latitude to local land managers for road building and other activities that would compromise roadless qualities. The conservation community feels that the best protection for roadless areas is that of the 2001 Roadless Conservation Rule, and that the draft Colorado Rule falls far short of the protection the public expects and demands.
Onw change we expect to see is that all citizen-inventoried roadless areas will be added to the official roadless inventory. When Wild Connections told Pike-San Isabel Forest Supervisor Bob Leaverton that these citizen-inventoried areas were not included in the Draft Rule, we set in motion a Forest Service discussion. Any roadless area of at least 5,000 acres or smaller areas contiguous with existing Wilderness or National Parks should be included. More than 70,000 acres of citizen-inventoried lands on the Pike-San Isabel, including Salt Creek which is contiguous with Buffalo Peaks Wilderness meet these criteria.
Click here for a PDF copy of the conservationist's comments.
Roadless Areas of South-Central Colorado includes detailed descriptions of more than 80 roadless areas found in the mountain headwaters of the South Platte and Arkansas Rivers. Each area also has a map showing the citizen-inventoried, 2001 Rule and proposed Colorado Rule boundaries. Click here to go to the report.
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