Biodiversity Conservation Alliance

MAKE A CALL TO HELP PREVENT CATASTROPHIC LOGGING IN THE MEDICINE BOW

The Forest Service has just unveiled the Devils Gate logging project, which would include 500 acres of clearcutting among 1,144 acres of logging between the Savage Run and North Platte wilderness areas. The biggest logging project proposed in years, Devil’s Gate would degrade an important linkage between two of the biggest remaining tracts of pristine forest remaining on the Medicine Bow. Comments on this project will be accepted until July 17th, but the Forest Service has not yet committed to holding a public hearing on the project. A public hearing would give the public a chance to voice their concerns and put more pressure on the forest service; it is an important step to fight this destructive project.

Please call Melissa Martin at (307) 745-2371 and tell her the Forest Service should sponsor a public hearing to allow an opportunity to air public concerns about the project!

For more information on the Devils Gate Timber Sale, visit http://www.voiceforthewild.org/clearcutting/news/n23may06.html; you can review the Devils Gate Environmental Assessment online at http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/mbr/projects/timber/adobepdf/devils_gate_draft_ea_template.pdf.

BCA FILES FOR PROTECTION OF OLD GROWTH IN BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST

Seeking protection of old growth forest, wildlife, fish, and plants, BCA last week filed an administrative challenge of the Forest Service’s Phase II Amendment to the Black Hills National Forest long-range management plan. Although the Phase II was promised to protect and restore the diverse and unique natural values of the Black Hills National Forest, it instead calls for massive amounts of logging under the guise of reducing fire risk and insect infestations. Old growth forest comprises only 0.22% of the entire Forest, an over 85% decline just since 1996, yet nothing in the Phase II Amendment ensures protection or restoration of this critical habitat. This decision puts wildlife that depend on old growth at risk for extinction on the Black Hills. BCA is seeking to reverse the Forest Service’s decision, in order to protect wildlife such as the northern goshawk and pine marten. For more information on the Black Hills National Forest and the Phase II Amendment, visit our website at http://www.voiceforthewild.org/bhnf/bhnfprogram.html.

STAY LIFTED: THUMPER TRUCKS THREATEN ADOBE TOWN ONCE AGAIN

A judge recently lifted a Stay that BCA and our partners had won against the Cherokee West thumper truck project. BCA opposes this seismic oil and gas exploration project because it threatens wildlife, wilderness, sensitive badlands, and fossils in Adobe Town. The Stay had halted the project while the case was decided, but was lifted after the exploration company agreed to undertake a complete survey for fossil resources in advance. While the fossil resources are now protected (a significant improvement), the judge failed to resolve the primary issue. Potential wilderness in Adobe Town is still threatened with degradation by off-road, 32-ton trucks. BCA is pursuing all possible avenues to prevent this unnecessary damage by requiring low-impact methods before the trucks roll this summer. For background on this issue see previous Bio-Broadcasts and Alerts at http://www.voiceforthewild.org/general/news/n11jan06.html, http://www.voiceforthewild.org/alerts05.html, and http://www.voiceforthewild.org/broadcast.html.

VICTORY FOR AIR BREATHERS NEAR LARAMIE FINALLY SETTLED AND SIGNED

That's right! Through much blood, sweat and tears, Clean-Air Act lawyer Reed Zars, BCA and Sierra Club members have wrangled compliance from Mountain Cement company. The settlement between BCA, the Sierra Club and Mountain Cement was thought to be final in November of 2005 but signing of the agreement was delayed by Mountain Cement for a further eight months. Laramie area residents can soon breathe easy, as one of the nation's dirtiest facilities (according to Environmental Defense's Pollution Scorecard) must now clean up their plant and install better pollution controls on their kiln, or cease its use. For background on the issue, please see Victory for Air-Breathers Near Laramie at http://www.voiceforthewild.org/general/alerts/a26oct05.html, and BCA Acts to Hold Mountain Cement Accountable in Court This Week at http://www.voiceforthewild.org/general/news/n25oct05.html.

JOIN THE HONEYCOMB BUTTES CAMPING TRIP JUNE 10-11

Space is still available to explore the red- and green-banded maze of badlands of the Honeycomb Buttes, a potential wilderness in the Jack Morrow Hills country of the northwestern Red Desert. The trip will involve overnight camping with moderate day hikes into the buttes. Bring camping gear, food, and water. To reserve your place or for more information, contact Maggie Schafer, BCA's community organizer, at 307-742-7978, or email maggie@voiceforthewild.org.

THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LIKE A PARTY ANIMAL: JOIN THE BCA PARTY COMMITTEE

Always wanted to turn that social instinct into gain for wildlife? Save the earth by joining BCA's special events committee. We'll plan a ball in Jackson Hole, BCA's Annual Member Celebration in Centennial, and informal after-hours, coffee-klatsches and salons! Time commitment is an hour per week, including one meeting per month, and the goal is to help educate, empower, and raise $ for BCA's mission: protecting wildlife and wild places in Wyoming and surrounding states. To join, email sarah@voiceforthewild.org.

LEVERAGE YOUR $ WITH EARTH FRIENDS WILDLIFE FOUNDATION

Have you always admired BCA's work and were waiting for the right time to join? Rick Flory and Lee Robert of the Earth Friends Wildlife Foundation are ready to match every new donation to Biodiversity Conservation Alliance up to $70,000 in 2006. It's time to join the voice for the wild and make your contribution count for more. Click on this link to join: http://www.voiceforthewild.org/general/join.html!

RED DESERT PRESENTATION IN LARAMIE JUNE 8TH

The Resonant Frequency Group of Laramie and Biodiversity Conservation Alliance will co-sponsor a presentation by Karen King, Native American Organizer for Friends of the Red Desert in Lander, titled Red Desert – Past, Present and Future. The event will take place at 7:00 PM, on June 8th, 2006, place to be announced. Please call Dianne Duncan Perrote, 307-755-0219, to RSVP and for more information.

Biodiversity Conservation Alliance
P.O. Box 1512, Laramie, WY 82073
(307) 742-7978 - maggie@voiceforthewild.org