As pastor of a congregation in Tempe, Doug Bland is naturally interested in the spiritual lives of our church members. He sometimes asks his congregation, "When have you felt closest to God?" Unfortunately, he says, "they don't say: ‘During your sermons.'"
Lynn Ryan has a secret-a powerful one. And for more than 30 years, it has been the key to her success in saving some of her favorite forests, beaches, mountains, and quiet wild places.
"It really comes down to grassroots organizing," says Lynn. "There's a joy in it."
If you have not yet read A Sand County Alamanac by Aldo Leopold, do yourself a favor this summer: put away the beach novels and move this classic to the top of your reading list. This collection of deceptive simple essays is rightly held to be one of the seminal books of the 20th century, for in them Leopold distilled an idea that, in the year of its publication, 1949 (and the book has never been out-of-print since), was far ahead of its time: the idea of the land ethic.
"We met at Oxford University in the zoology department," said Bess Murray. "He lent me a pencil and a card with his name on it. If I had ever known I would end up marrying the man with the pencil, I'm not sure what I would have done."
"Run," said Jim.
"What is it that draws people to The Forest? Do they come to count the rings on the stumps of old growth white pines and marvel at what used to be? I think not. As evidence of human influence grows in the heart of The Forest, it becomes increasingly apparent that if there are not areas set aside to preserve the wilderness characteristics that so many value, we risk destroying the very thing we seek."
- Jim DeLong, Testimony at Allegheny National Forest public hearing, August 21, 2006
As the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act approached in 2004, we hoped to interest National Public Radio in the story of ordinary people saving wilderness. The perfect example would be the once seriously imperiled area at the south end of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, straddling the divide between Idaho and Montana southwest of Missoula.
It was with passion and determination that Ellen and David Drell, of Willits, California brought together a community of volunteers to form the Citizens' Committee to Save Our Public Lands in 1974. More than thirty years later, the two activists continue to use the same sturdy tools, celebrating progress and tackling new concerns. Since the early days of the Committee, David and Ellen have poured their hearts into the protection of unique places in the Mendocino National Forest.
On Tuesday, January 30, Aspen Marchington celebrated her first birthday. She doesn't know it yet, but just a few weeks earlier her dad helped make history. Because of Aspen's father and others like him, on December 9 Congress designated 558,000 acres of protected wilderness in eastern Nevada's White Pine County.
Sadly, we missed the chance to celebrate one of America's greatest wilderness heroes, Karen Fant, before her death last summer at age 57. As you see from her photo, Karen always had a winning smile: winning for wilderness was a central part of her life.
Carl Stonecipher is a dentist. He’s also a member of the Black Hills Sportsmen Club, the former president of the Western South Dakota Chapter of Safari Club International, and a grandfather of five. Carl is a Republican.
Jeff Olson is a dentist. He serves on the board of the South Dakota Wildlife Federation, and was recently honored by Field and Stream as one of 10 annually recognized “Heroes of Conservation.” Jeff is a Democrat.
