Page 34 - 2002 DT 12 issues

Help for Nevada’s Wild Lands ○ Red Rock Canyon ○ aquifers comes from wilderness areas.
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Mormon Mountains ○ That quality is directly affected by long-
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outhern Nevada’s population ex ○ Es Dorado Mountains ○ ○ term ecological processes and is vital
plosion poses a serious threat to ○ ○ Meadow Valley Mountains ○ ○ not only to our growing population, but
Sthe last wild places in Nevada’s ○ Clover Mountains ○ to wildlife as well.
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Mojave Desert. Although considered ○ Professor Brett Riddle, Ph.D., ○ Recognizing the economic impor-
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the hottest and most arid North ○ UNLV- Department of Biological Sci- ○ tance of wild lands, Clark County has
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American desert, the Mojave teems ○ ences, made several points about the proposed a Multiple Species Habitat
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with wildlife and is home to over 1500 ○ importance of wilderness to overall eco- ○ Conservation Plan that will identify and
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plant and animal species. It is a place ○ ○ logical health, ○ protect endangered, threatened and
of varied habitats, including woodlands, ○ observing that ours is a short period, vulnerable species on federal lands,
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springs and pools, and mountain islands ○ unpredictable climate. Plants and guaranteeing their protection for 30
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surrounded by seas animals must have the op- years. Dr. Deacon noted that wild lands
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of desert. These portunity to respond to ○ are an integral part of an economically
habitats are often change. The small sound approach to growth. The Habitat
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small and isolated, Winnemucca isolated populations Plan is designed to allow for develop-
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Humboldt 80 ○
providing tenuous River represented by these ment without destroying the values that
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shelter to support narrow habitats are ex- attract people and businesses to
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endemic species Reno tremely vulnerable to ○ beautiful places.
NEVADA ○
and sub-species. disturbance. Wilderness ○
Carson City ○
This unique bio- core areas, surrounded ○ Chuck and Pat Williams
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logical commu- by buffers large enough ○ Honored
nity ranges in eleva- to resist introduction of ○ ○
tion from 500 feet to non-native plants and ○ ○ huck and Pat Williams have
over 11,000 feet, with tem- animals, allow ecosys- ○ ○ been named winners of the
peratures that range from sub- tem processes to operate ○ C “Making a Difference” BLM
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zero to over 120 degrees F in some Las Vegas during changes, mini- ○ National Volunteer Award for 2002.
valleys. mizing disturbances. ○ They will be hosted in Washington,
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A meeting on March 19, 2002 of the Where extinctions do ○ ○ D.C., May 29 - 31, with the awards
Nevada Wildlife Coalition provided in- take place, there must be ○ ceremony planned for May 30. Nomi-
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formation about the Citizens’ ○ adequate opportunity ○ nees who have made outstanding
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Wilderness Proposal for Nevada’s ○ for dispersal of new species, ensuring ○ contributions to conservation are
Mojave Desert Region. Guest speak- ○ ○ the cycle of evolution. ○ ○ submitted by BLM Field Offices
ers representing political, scientific, ○ ○ According to Professor James Dea- ○ ○ throughout the country. Nine individu-
business, tribal, and grassroots ○ con, Ph.D, UNLV-Department of ○ als/groups representing California,
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elements, spoke in support of proposed ○ ○ Environmental Sciences, there are both ○ ○ Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico,
legislation that, if enacted by Congress, ○ ethical and economic ramifications to ○ ○ Oregon and Utah were chosen for the
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will permanently “protect the natural ○ wilderness protection. As early as 1967, ○ award, along with three BLM
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and cultural values of southern ○ the journal Science, published by the ○ Employees from California, Colorado
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Nevada’s wilderness areas.” Included ○ ○ prestigious American Association for ○ and Oregon.
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in the protection proposal are: ○ the Advancement of Science, stated ○ Both Chuck and Pat have contrib-
McCullough Range ○ ○ that although there have been histori- ○ ○ uted thousands of hours of volunteer
Bowl of Fire ○ ○ cal cycles of so-called “natural” ○ ○ service to Red Rock Canyon over the
Muddy Mountains ○ extinctions, the underlying cause of ○ ○ last three years. As President of Friends
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Desert National Wildlife Range ○ environmental destruction on earth is ○ of Red Rock Canyon 2000 - 2002,
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Gold Butte Region ○ human activity. From a practical stand- ○ Chuck has guided the organization
Spring Mountains ○ point, the quality of the water in our through a record number of natural
Page 2 FORRC/May, 2002