In late March,, Senators John Sununu (R-NH) and Judd Gregg (R-NH) introduced the New Hampshire Wilderness Act of 2006, legislation to permanently protect 34,500 areas in the Sandwich Range and Wild River region of the White Mountain National Forest as Congressionally designated wilderness.
No one was more joyful, proud, grateful, or responsible than Fred Lavigne and Evelyn MacKinnon, and the Friends of the Sandwich Range.
Fred and Evelyn, a husband and wife wilderness team from Sandwich, NH, along with a small band of fellow wilderness advocates formed Friends of the Sandwich Range in 1998, and embarked upon the long path to the designation of this special place as wilderness.. "The project started eight years ago, when the U.S. Forest Service planned a timber sale adjacent to an existing wilderness area in the White Mountain National Forest," says Fred. "We knew that even if we fought this timber sale and won, over time there would be another project proposed, and another. The best way not to have that happen again would be to designate the area as wilderness."
A Little Help from their Friends
One of Friends of the Sandwich Range's greatest victories leading up to bill introduction involved an area called Black Mountain. "In the Forest Service's draft management plan, Black Mountain was left out of wilderness protection," says Fred. "The Black Mountain pond extension was the area where the timber sale was originally proposed. So we spent time talking with the local ranger, showed him the place, and in the final plan we got it included. This area is part of the historic farming community. There are old cellar holes and barn foundations, and the Algonquin Trail -- one of our most beautiful trails -- is now from trailhead to summit completely in wilderness."
Through this eight-year effort, The Wilderness Society and Appalachian Mountain Club have provided crucial guidance and support to the Friends. "We knew where we wanted to go, but we needed help figuring out what the steps were. We know the land, the people, the Forest Service, and they know the bigger national political picture," explains Fred.
Likewise, these national advocates relied heavily on the local expertise of Friends of the Sandwich Range, and stand in admiration of the group's work. "Fred and Evelyn don't turn away from a challenge, they face it head on. Whether it's a week of winter camping in the White Mountains or building public support for wilderness, they are driven by their respect for nature," says Leanne Klyza-Linck, a senior associate with The Wilderness Society.
Save a Tree, Hug a Logger
Fred is a self-employed logger in Sandwich who works on private lands. "When I'm not cutting them, I'm hugging them," jokes Fred. "You can be both. Being a logger doesn't mean a person is opposed to wilderness and to protecting places."
Evelyn was an elementary school teacher in New Hampshire for 20 years. "My bridge building and mediation skills have come in handy in our work with the Forest Service and other stakeholders," she says.
Leanne Klyza-Linck sums up their work, saying "They don't do anything half-heartedly, and their combined skills increase each other's effectiveness. Together, they have helped communicate the need for more wilderness and mobilize support in New Hampshire communities."
Both Fred and Evelyn agree that a large part of their success was founded on being respectful to the Forest Service and others involved in the process. "If we had taken adversarial roles, things might have turned out differently. It's been a lot more pleasant to start out with respecting everyone involved. We got a lot more that way than if we had come down hard," says Evelyn.
Getting to Wilderness Success
Once Fred and Evelyn had their sights set on wilderness designation for their special place, they planned a trip to the nation's capital. "It was hard the first time we came to DC. We were thinking ‘What are we going to say to these people?'," remembers Fred. "We did our best, meeting with the congressional staffers, but we didn't get any commitments. The second time we came to DC, it was a little easier, and the third time was a piece of cake. The relationship just evolved, and somewhere along the line when one of the staffers casually mentioned ‘when we put forth a bill,' we were just elated."
More important than visits to Washington was the work done in their community and out in the forest. "It's important that you get to know the land better than the agency does. Put the time in. Have many people in the group wander through every possible area," says Fred. "You have to know what you're trying to save, and it gets you fired up when you know there could be a road or a timber sale in an area. It puts the fight in you."
The Friends of the Sandwich Range developed a slideshow of the areas they were working to protect, and used it to educate their community about wilderness. "Even in the agency, there are many misconceptions about wilderness. We were able to talk about what wilderness on our public lands was all about," says Fred. "Plus, you make people aware of what you can and can't do in wilderness, and that really helps," adds Evelyn.
"You're not going to win people over all at once. It takes time," Fred cautions. "Pace yourself. Keep in mind you're in this for the long haul. Keep talking to your neighbors, even if they don't agree with you. Look for opportunities to find common ground. Time is on your side."
Evelyn provides additional counsel, "Be patient. We would have liked it to happen more quickly, but it really does take time. Remember to get out there and enjoy it while you're protecting it. It takes five minutes of being on that trail to feel rejuvenated and to remember that this is the reason we work to protect wilderness."
