Durango, CO - Protecting Colorado's backcountry could benefit more than just hikers and wildlife. That's the claim from supporters of a package of new wilderness bills and other legislation scheduled to come before the U.S. House of Representatives soon. The package includes measures to designate the back country of Rocky Mountain National Park and the Dominguez Canyons near Grand Junction as wilderness areas.
Mike Matz, who directs the Campaign for America's Wilderness from Durango, says preserving wilderness has practical benefits for science as well.
"It gives a chance for scientists to look at some of these areas and see why the beetles are killing so many trees. It's a great outdoor scientific laboratory."
He says making sure Colorado wilderness stays wild has benefits for the economy, even aside from tourism.
"It helps to keep real estate values afloat, by helping to make the area attractive for people so they want to locate themselves there."
Matz says both the potential new wilderness areas in Colorado have broad support by local communities and businesses.
"They see the value in having balance, having some areas available for development, but also protecting a slice here and there of the natural areas."
Opponents of new wilderness designations say they restrict uses of public land that could help boost the struggling economy. Matz says however that the wilderness areas currently being considered have been carefully vetted to ensure that preservation is the best use of the land. The U.S. Senate already said "yes" to the package.
