In his column two weeks ago, Tom Mobley asserted protecting wilderness on any of the federal land the public land we all own in Doña Ana County will "insidiously eliminate ranching." Whoa, there! Do any of us who worked out the citizen proposal to protect our local wilderness areas really want to drive our rancher neighbors out of business? Of course not!As representatives of diverse organizations of hunters, horse riders, business leaders and conservationists, we want to offer a few clarifying points. We support a simple idea: that the wildest of our public lands are so outstanding they deserve the strongest protection possible. We want our county among the nation's fastest growing to responsibly protect our natural heritage.We must take issue with the assertion that "only areas that have been studied by qualified professionals and found to be suitable as wilderness should be considered."The Wilderness Act was written by our own Senator Clinton Anderson. He wisely wanted Congress to decide what public lands are suitable for wilderness protection. As another framer of the Act, Idaho's Senator Frank Church, said: "Congress is not properly representing the people if concerned citizens can't turn to us and say, "We think the agency is mistaken in proposing to develop or not to develop this area or that area.'"Protection of beloved areas in our state, like the Sandia Mountain Wilderness bordering Albuquerque's city limits, began as citizen's proposals, welcomed by Congress. Wilderness decisions are truly democratic, empowering us to help protect public lands, for today and for future generations.Once an area becomes wilderness, public vehicle use is halted. Wilderness means a few sanctuaries of quiet away from machines peaceful havens for strolling with children (or grandchildren), birding, camping, hunting, and so much more, even quiet grazing for contented livestock. These are a few of the reasons this wilderness proposal has strong bipartisan support.The Wilderness Act allows necessary vehicular use by the federal land managers and for emergency or national security purposes. Cherry stems, like the Clinton P. Anderson Highway leading into the Gila Wilderness, address public access concerns while preserving wilderness values.Ranchers' privilege to continue grazing on our public lands is protected where it is an established use when a wilderness area is designated. Sen. Anderson wrote the Wilderness Act that way, with the strong support of America's conservation groups. Due to problems with agency misapplication of grazing policy, Congress convened a special committee in 1990. This committee produced the Congressional Grazing Guidelines, which spell out in clear detail rancher's rights to, among other things, use motorized equipment to maintain water sources.The study Mr. Mobley cites only addresses two New Mexico wilderness areas under U.S. Forest Service management. The Bureau of Land Management manages the land we propose for wilderness protection in Doña Ana County. The overwhelming majority of BLM wilderness areas across the West maintain active grazing programs.Members of our coalition initiated meetings with Mr. Mobley, as we are doing with all other ranchers who will meet with us. We want them to know that we support what Sen. Anderson wrote into the Wilderness Act: established grazing privileges "shall be permitted to continue subject to such reasonable regulations as are deemed necessary." These regulations can protect the land like not allowing vehicular travel when deep rutting of very wet roads would occur while still giving ranchers the flexibility they need. What is unfair about that when it is everyone's public land?National wilderness advocates have worked with Congress on tougher guidelines specifically to protect rancher's privileges in wilderness areas. There need be no application process and public comment for each use of vehicular access by a rancher; it is easier spelled out in the details of the allotment renewal. When we have the privilege of using the public lands, all of us must play by the rules. The bottom line: what is fair for ranchers and best for the land our public land.We pledge to work with ranchers before and after wilderness areas are protected in our county. We want to prevent problems, but will be there to help should problems arise. Our county has the rare opportunity to protect special wild lands, plan future growth, and preserve our natural heritage. Wilderness, our common ground, is the centerpiece of this opportunity.Working together, we can do it.-Toby S. Rue serves the board of directors for the Hispano Chamber of Commerce. He is co-chair of their education committee, an active community member, and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor.-Lorraine Schulte is a charter member of the Mesilla Valley Audubon Society. She received the New Mexico Audubon Council's Aldo Leopold Conservation Award for 2006, and heads up the Audubon Adventures program in schools.-Noel Cooley represents the Southwest Consolidated Sportsmen and is a retired geodetist with the Defense Mapping Agency.-Don Patterson represents the Lower Rio Grande Chapter of Back Country Horsemen of America, and practices the "barefoot" method of horse hoof care.
