Biodiversity Conservation Alliance

BLACK HILLS LOGGING PROJECT BANNED FOREVER

The Cement timber sale, which threatened old growth and the Sand Creek Roadless Area in the Black Hills National Forest, was permanently banned on April 10 by a Colorado judge. While dismissing BCA's lawsuit due to the fact that the Forest Service withdrew the Cement timber sale last summer, Judge Kane in the U.S. District Court of Colorado ruled, "this [dismissal] is conditioned upon the government's representation that the Cement Project has been permanently withdrawn and will never be revived." The Black Hills National Forest is one of the most heavily logged National Forests in the country. Virtually the entire forest has been logged at least once in the last century, with most areas logged three or more times. Most recent estimates from the Forest Service show that only 0.22% of the entire Black Hills is old growth. Old growth forest provides vital habitat for many plants and animals. The permanent withdrawal of the Cement timber sale is a huge victory for the Black Hills and for old growth forest.

DISASTROUS JONAH DECISION APPEALED

In classic David versus Goliath fashion, BCA has taken on the BLM, the State of Wyoming, EnCana Oil and Gas, and BP America, in our ongoing fight to protect what is left of the Jonah Field. We recently appealed the BLM’s decision to allow the Jonah Infill Drilling Project to become the densest drilling field in America. The density of drilling approved is excessive and unacceptable, and will eliminate the usefulness of the land to virtually all wildlife species for the next 100 years or more. The outcome of our appeal could set a national precedent which will determine how oil and gas development is conducted in the years to come throughout the Rocky Mountain region. The BLM simply refuses to compel industry to utilize alternative drilling technologies, such as directional drilling, which would confine the entire infill project (3,100 new wells) to existing well pads, thereby minimizing impacts to wildlife habitat and wildlife. Industry should not be permitted to completely pulverize any public lands. For more info, visit our press releases at:
http://www.voiceforthewild.org/general/news/n16jan06.html (January 16th, 2006)
http://www.voiceforthewild.org/blm/news/n14march06.html (March 6th, 2006)
http://www.voiceforthewild.org/general/news/n13april06.html (April 13th, 2006)

BIGHORN SHEEP PROTECTIONS STRIPPED

No Thanks to Intervention by the Department of Game and Fish.
Biodiversity Conservation Alliance's victory on our Medicine Bow forest plan appeal has been reversed through a "Discretionary Review" by the Secretary of Agriculture. BCA had succeeded in demonstrating that the forest plan did not maintain the viability of the Encampment bighorn sheep herd in the Sierra Madre Range because it allowed domestic sheep to mingle with bighorns, exposing the wild sheep to deadly diseases. The Chief of the Forest Service directed the agency to shift domestic sheep allotment boundaries to ensure separation between the woollies and bighorns, but this important reform was erased by the Discretionary Review.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department played a central role in calling for the reversal and eliminating the wildlife protections. If you feel that WGFD should not be engaging in anti-wildlife activities such as these, write a letter to the editor condemning this action. BCA will recommend that WGFD Director Terry Cleveland step down for conduct contrary to his agency's mission. For more information, visit http://www.voiceforthewild.org/mbnf/news/n25april06.html.

JOIN US FOR RED DESERT AND MEDICINE BOW OUTINGS

BCA has just announced its spring and summer outings. Come join the fun and see some of Wyoming's last best places:

May 13 - Boar's Tusk Dunes day trip
May 20-21 - Adobe Town overnighter
May 27-29 - Southern Red Desert Caravan auto tour w/ camping
June 10-11 - Wild Cow Creek backpack along Atlantic Rim country
June 10-11 - Honeycomb Buttes overnighter
June 17-18 - North Platte Dugway Float
June 30 - Adobe Town day hike
July 29 - Medicine Bow Peak day hike
August 5 - Rock Creek hike
September 23 - Sierra Madre scenic drive
Visit us at http://www.voiceforthewild.org/general/outings/2006.html to see further details, and call Maggie at 307-742-7978 to sign up for one of these hikes.

SNOWY RANGE SKI AREA EXPANSION MOVES FORWARD

The Forest Service has given the Snowy Range Ski Area the go-ahead for Phase I of their proposed expansion project. Snowy Range Ski Area modified some parts of its project due to BCA input. Copies of the Forest Services' final Environmental Assessment can be accessed at the Forest Service website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/mbr/projects/specper/index.shtml Hard copies can be obtained at the District Ranger’s office, 2468 Jackson Street, Laramie, WT 82070. Please stay tuned and be ready to write letters to protect Libby Flats roadless area as Phase II of the expansion project begins.

BCA NEEDS YOUR HELP

As Margaret Mead is widely recognized for having said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." BCA is a small staff with a big network of volunteers, supporters, members, partner organizations and grassroots activists. This dedicated group makes BCA successes possible. But each of our projects costs us time and money, and we always wish we could do more to protect and restore wildlife and wild places. Please support our campaigns with a donation. http://www.voiceforthewild.org/general/join.html. Spread the word by forwarding this alert (but not spamming). Stay informed by subscribing to BCA News & Alerts. http://www.voiceforthewild.org/general/maillist.html Contribute your time or needed items. http://www.voiceforthewild.org/general/contribute.html Thank you for your help!

BCA PARTICIPATES IN EARTH DAY CELEBRATION

In addition to sponsoring a panel in conjunction with the “Campaign to End Clearcutting” in the University of Wyoming student union, BCA displayed an information booth in the Prexy’s Pasture Earth Day festival, featuring opportunities to sign petition postcards for protection of Adobe Town in the Red Desert, and to end clear cutting. Among groups invited to the celebration by BCA were The Murie Legacy, Wyoming Game and Fish with a display on ferret reintroduction, Laramie Audubon, Laramie Raptor Refuge, the Laramie Chapter of the Sierra Club, and the Rocky Mountain Society of Aviculture. We would like to thank everyone who participated with us, visited the tables, and attended the panel.

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