(Note from John S: The Center for Biological Diversity has been active in California for several years. They are branching out to Montana and other states where they can assist the Wildlands Project.)

(Note: Please note that the reporter did not give 'equal time' to those that could certainly provide irrefutable proof that 'the Center's' actions are responsible for the devastation of wildlife in addition to human health and well-being. Certainly, the highly paid -- by nameless groups that wield large pursestrings -- 'spokesmen' are glib and masters at language deception. Removing waterers that wildlife depend on to thrive and even survive -- is rampant destruction, and certainly NOT good for wildlife. What color is this sort of 'journalism,' again?)

March 2, 2003

By Matt Riehl mriehl@yumasun.com  or 928-539-6851

The Yuma Sun

P.O. Box 271

Yuma, AZ 86366

928-783-3333

Fax: 928-782-7369

To submit a Letter to the Editor: newsroom@yumasun.com

From its efforts to shut down portions of the sand dunes to off-road vehicles to its efforts to rid the desert of man-made water holes, the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity has made its share of enemies in Yuma.

Among them are the off-road enthusiasts who flock to the Imperial Sand Dunes each year, the off-road business owners who rely on the dunes for revenue and wildlife management officials.

Whether the center is the lawsuit-happy group of environmental extremists [that] it's made out to be -- or a victim of unjust criticism -- is open to debate. Either way, the Center says it's not concerned about popular opinion.

"We do what we think is right, and we let the chips fall where they may," said Kieran Suckling, the center's outspoken executive director. "But we also believe that the public is very supportive of protecting endangered species.

"Most of our work revolves around endangered species, and our primary goal is to stop the extinction crisis, which is wiping out species across America at an unprecedented rate," said Suckling. "We're opposed to those industries that are destroying the rural environment  the developers, the loggers, the miners, the ranchers. These are forces that are destroying the rural west and turning it into a combination of an urban sprawl and a garbage heap."

Adds Daniel Patterson, the center's desert ecologist: "The Center is a science-based, law-based wildlife advocacy group. Wildlife habitat is rapidly disappearing. Our environment needs more defenders. We're one of those voices."

The Center is a 7,500-member organization funded by private money. It has the critical role of watching public land and wildlife agencies  such as the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  to ensure they comply with conservation laws, he says.

"It's hardly a radical concept," he said. "In fact, it's a very American concept."

Patterson said there are a number of issues the Center is dealing with in the Yuma area, the biggest involving the Imperial Sand Dunes.

"We're motivated there to prevent extinction of rare species that only live on the dunes and to have reasonable management, which provides for some conservation and would also help to stimulate diversified public visitation to the dunes and at the same time allow some off-road vehicle use out there," he said.

The rare and threatened species to which Patterson refers include the Peirson's milk vetch, Sand Food, Algodones Dunes Sunflower, Flat-tailed Horned Lizard, Andrews Dunes Scarab Beetle, Desert Tortoise and at least nine endemic beetles.

Patterson said a common misconception is that the center is out to try to close the entire dunes to off-road vehicle use.

"That's something that the off-road industry throws around to try to mischaracterize our intent," he said. "What we're interested in is balanced management. Currently, there is, but unfortunately the BLM is moving as fast as they can to do away with that and manage the place like a big, off-road sandbox. And that's unacceptable."

The Center is also intent on doing away with artificial watering holes established by the BLM and Arizona Game and Fish Department. These facilities  16 of which exist in the Yuma area  are intended to support desert wildlife.

"These artificial waters are no substitute for protection and restoration of our natural springs," Patterson said. "Many of our natural springs have been degraded by livestock grazing and off-road vehicles or by burros or invasive non-native plant species such as the tamarisk."

There are several means by which the center accomplishes its objectives in Yuma and elsewhere.

"We use education, science, citizen activism and the knowledge that we have  most of the Center's staff are ecologists and conservation biologists  and we use our experience to try to influence the land management agencies to do the right thing to protect endangered species," Patterson said. "When they don't, then we work within our democratic system to make sure that the law is upheld and that wildlife aren't getting the short end of the stick."

According to Suckling, "We devote a lot of time and resources to studying the status of various imperiled species and what restoration things need to be done. So that's one big thing we do. The second is litigation. The center is not shy at all about filing a lawsuit if that's what needs to be done to save endangered species."

While some in Yuma would like to see the center stop, there are those who support the center, Patterson said. "We've had quite a few supporters come on board from Yuma over the last few years," he said.

One supporter is Rodney Martin, a planning and economic development consultant in the area and a center member. He believes the agency serves an important function in Yuma: to promote public awareness and stimulate debate on the usages and preservation of public lands.

"Obviously, the public should be able to enjoy public lands, but at the same time, (these lands) need to last for generations," he said. "So we're trying to strike a balance between preservation and public use. And I don't think there's enough debate anymore. We need to have an open, honest and mature discussion and throw everything on the table."

Copyright 2003, The Yuma Sun. 

http://yumasun.com/artman/publish/articles/story_4252.shtml