|
Environmentalists appear to have little concern with the 'Take Pride in America' program. The fact that it was championed years ago by Senator Slade Gorton, or pushed upon the Bush Administration by the American Recreation Coalition, or now enthusiastically supported by the motorized recreation community, or currently prized as one of Gale Norton's showcase do-go programs - has not seemed to trouble many folks. Even the fact that the Take Pride in America logo has begun to adorn the stationery of most federal land management agencies, does not seem to have raised the profile for this issue amongst my peers.
Pasted below is an Op-ed from Senator Crapo. It says only wonderful things about the program. It also reminds us that Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne chairs the Council of Governors for Take Pride in America. Surely that fact alone should be sufficient to set off skyrockets within this community, should it not??? Hopefully folks will be interested in learning more and perhaps even joining me in speaking out against this program and about the bigger agenda of which Take Pride is but a small component.
To be blunt, this initiative scares the heck out of me. But, then again, I know more about the program than most.
Scott
To learn more:
www.takepride.gov (government site)
www.takepride.info (industry site)
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
--- begin quoted ---
Friday, July 30, 2004
Take pride in Idaho's great outdoors
Guest opinion by SEN. MIKE CRAPO
Summertime in Idaho means many things to many Idahoans, but for most of
us it means outdoor recreation. Last year, the Outdoor Industry
Association released a study which found that a higher percentage of
Idahoans participate in outdoor recreation than residents of any other
state-about 87 percent of the population. Idahoans' interest in outdoor
recreation is due in part to the fact that there are wilderness areas,
national historic and scenic trails, national forests, and state and
national parks in every corner of the state making Idaho home to a
multitude of recreational opportunities. These include unparalleled
fishing, hunting, climbing, skiing, kayaking, rafting, canoeing,
camping, horseback riding, hiking, biking and off road vehicle
recreation.
As an example of the economic impact of outdoor recreation in Idaho,
consider recent hunting and fishing numbers. Based upon a series of
quarterly surveys spanning 2003, the Idaho Fish and Game Department
estimates that there were over 400,000 anglers fishing Idaho's waters
last year, spending approximately $438 million in the process. The most
recent hunting statistics reflect 2001 numbers in which the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service estimates that there were 248,000 hunters; and
with each one spending an average of $1,136, Idaho hunting expenditures
surpassed $280 million that year.
With an eye to improving and expanding the already outstanding
recreational opportunities in Idaho, the Idaho Department of Parks and
Recreation (IDPR) is conducting public meetings and has organized focus
groups this spring and summer throughout the state to better identify
recreational options that people want to see developed in and around
their local communities. They are formulating a statewide survey to be
released late this summer or early fall based on their interviews and
focus group findings. They hope to utilize all the information to
encourage greater participation in outdoor recreational opportunities
and make meaningful improvements to the existing system of parks.
Making use of what public lands have to offer is only part of the
equation. With use comes responsibility. It is important that as we
recreate on our public lands and waterways, we treat them with utmost
care and consideration-for people who will visit next week or in 50
years. National and state programs exist to educate people about
enjoying our natural resources wisely and responsibly.
IDPR is the official state sponsor for Take Pride in America, a
national campaign that encourages cooperation between public and
private sectors to protect the national treasures we have in our public
parks and other recreation and cultural areas. Take Pride in America
focuses on citizen stewardship as the key to restoring important public
lands across the nation. Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne chairs the Council
of Governors for Take Pride in America.
The nationally-promoted Tread Lightly campaign encourages visitors to
public lands and waterways to travel and recreate with minimum impact,
respect the environment and rights of others and plan ahead. For more
information about this valuable program, please visit my Web site at
http://crapo.senate.gov.
With the recreational riches that Idaho has to offer, we benefit in
mind and body from taking advantage of these unique treasures. Even
more encouraging is the fact that plentiful and diverse recreational
activities open the great outdoors for most everyone to enjoy. The
experience becomes mutually beneficial for the visitor and natural
resource when we use common sense, respect and planning in outdoor
activities. In doing so, we preserve our special Idaho heritage for
ourselves and for our children.
|
- Privatization 
