A recent decision by the National Park Service will open bays of Voyageurs National Park  to snowmobiles. This is due to a NPS study on the effects of snowmobiling on timber wolves. The study indicates that snowmobiling has no negative effect on wolves or wolf travel on the bays. I must confess that I am a bit mystified by a dozen or so environmental groups that chosen to sue the Park Service. I do not like snowmobiles anymore than these environmental groups. I’ve been a life long advocate for wilderness and genuinely wish motorized recreation was non-existent in these areas. But since wolves are not protected on the Canadian side of Rainy Lake (and can be hunted there year round,) and snowmobiling has no restrictions there either, what’s the point?

 The point is that this move by environmental groups will further polarize mainstream environmentalists and more fringe elements of the movement, which will weaken and further fragment an already fragmented movement.
More importantly, it will further portray environmentalists as out of touch with reality and drive potential allies away.

At this critical juncture in American environmentalism, we need to seize the middle ground and develop a mainstream message. With "wise-use" in the White House, State government, and seemingly well entrenched in most ‘County Boards,’ we may be losing ground. What’s "wise-use" you ask? I do not have the space here to go into a lengthy historical dissertation but here is a brief over view: The philosophic founders are Alan Gottlieb and Ron Arnold. The term "wise-use" was co-opted from Gifford Pinchot who was appointed by Teddy Roosevelt as the first director of the United States Forest Service. The term "wise-use" was used by Pinchot to refer to how the USFS would use our resources. Thus "wise-use" was subverted from the original intent of the phrase.

Both Arnold and Gottlieb have ties to the Unification Church (the "Moonies.") Gottlieb has served prison time for income tax evasion. They espouse a world view that technology has the answer to all our problems. Their mantras include notions that there is a United Nations conspiracy to subvert our national sovereignty, that all public lands be privatized, even go so far as to advocate oil, mineral, and timber extraction in our national parks and wilderness areas! Frequent targets of "wise-use" are the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. There connection to the religious right can be seen in a quote from the New York Times after the last Republican Convention, "… the hole in the ozone was an atheist ploy (that) atheists and agnostics and their trained seal scientists invented environmental threats like the greenhouse effect and the ozone hole to promote their dream of world government." They prey upon rural folks who are beset by economic woes.

In reality, there message is anti-worker. They assert a "property rights" agenda in so much as you have the right to do anything you wish on private land. That the wildlife and fish on your private property are your exclusive domain to do with as you please.

The 1872 Mining Act is a priority item on the "wise-us" agenda. This "act" allows mining corporations to lease federal lands for $2.50 to $5.OO an acre, extract hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of ore, and what does the government get? Zero, yes not a penny. They support a whole array of subsides for big oil and below market costs for timber extraction on public lands.

So what does this all mean for Minnesota and what role does "wise-use" play here? "Wise-use" is an agenda and a way of thought. It needs organizations to forward it’s goals. Here are a few of the member organizations:

The Blue Ribbon Coalition: Working for unrestricted motorized access across American public lands.
The Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise: Arnold & Gottlieb’s umbrella group
The American Lands Association: Defending property rights at the cost of public rights.
Heritage Foundation: Think tank for ultra right-wing issues
Mountain Legal States Foundation: Law firm defending wise-use property rights
The National Center for Public Policy Research: Wise use conservative free market foundation
American Forest & Paper Association: National group representing paper products industry
Alliance for America: Largest umbrella group in wise use movement.

Here in Minnesota it is more difficult to place "wise use" in a more visible context than it is in the western states, where the 1872 Mining Act is so obviously corrupt. But the Blue Ribbon Coalition, a very important "wise use" organization, has a significant foot hold and a large following in our state. Lets look at some of the BRC members: Exxon, Shell Western E & P Inc., Chevron, American Petroleum Institute, Boise Cascade, Potlatch Corp., Louisiana Pacific Corp., Noranda Montanore Mining, Independence Mining Company, Northwest Mining Association, Arctic Cat, Polaris, Kawasaki, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Sea-Doo, Iron Range Resource and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB,) Conservationists with Common Sense (CWCS,) and a plethora of Snowmobile, ATV, 4-Wheel Drive, and Dirt Bike Motorcycle clubs. Including the Minnesota 4-Wheel Drive Association, Amateur Riders Motorcycle Association (ARMCA,) and our own Siamese twins of motorized recreation; the seemingly respected and highly thought of and legislatively powerful Minnesota United Snowmobile Association (MnUSA) and All Terrain Vehicle Association (ATVAM.) These powerful lobbies are so closely connected by body, the only difference is the head or should I say the names.

One of the principal targets of the Blue Ribbon Coalition has been the USFS "Roadless Initiative." In the years of 97 to 99, Corporations funding the BRC spent $46,115,748 and averaged 146 lobbyists at any time while lobbying Congress to defeat the "Roadless Initiative." Fact; The USFS "Roadless Initiative" under the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) held more public meetings and received more public comments than any other USFS proposal under NEPA in its history. Under the "Roadless Initiative" 380,000 miles of roads would remain intact. That is enough miles of roads to circle the earth 15 times. 49% would continue to remain open to OHV’s. Why the fuss? It’s all about access, subsidies, below market costs. With the public seemingly becoming more environmentally in touch and desiring lands set aside for wilderness protection, the Blue Ribbon Coalition can "masquerade" their access demands in motorized recreation values. 

As mainstream conservationists, we need to say what we are for and what we are against. I am glad that there is an oil extraction industry so that when I want to go deer hunting, I have gas in my tank in order that I may get into the woods. I am glad that there is a timber industry, after all, we live in wood houses and use paper products. What would we do with out these wood products. I am pleased there is mineral extraction so I can own a modern metallic washing machine so I don’t have to hand scrub my dirty cloths and tap into the convenience of having energy to heat my home at the turn of a knob. And glad there are available materials that exist in ‘chips’ and what not that are used in manufacturing my computer.

But I do believe that the corporations and organizations that make up the Blue Ribbon Coalition should not be so extravagantly subsidized and allowed to plunder public lands. And they most definitely should not be allowed into wilderness areas and national parks. In the 1988 Reno "Wise Use" Conference, hosted by the Blue Ribbon Coalition, they advocated opening wilderness areas and national parks, to mining, timber, and petroleum extraction; immediate oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and even turning National Park Concessionaires over to Walt Disney! Hardly mainstream American values.

Here in Minnesota, the headquarters for the "wise-use" movement and the BLC is MnUSA and ATVAM. If you do not think so, read their newsletters, "Minnesota Snowmobiling" and "Off Road." Within these publications are articles openly supporting the "wise-use" and BRC agendas. They often include BRC  membership forms. And what is so sad about all this, is nearly all of our northern legislators cater to these interests. Many of our U.S. legislators are at there behest, consider U.S Rep. Jim Oberstar, a "Conservationists with Common Sense" ally (CWCS has advocated reopening the BWCA to motorized use even jet ski’s) who sponsored legislation H.R. 1739, which brought motors back to 3 truck portages in the BWCA Wilderness. A rollback in wilderness protection which could set a national precedent.

Our State Senate and House of Representatives is loaded with wise use. Rep. Tom Bakk  from Cook, had an amendment attached to a DNR omnibus Bill on the last Legislative day of the 1999 session that permits cross country OHV travel in virtually all of our state forests. Meaning you do not have to keep your ATV, dirt-bike motorcycle, or mudder truck on trails, you can go off trail and travel willy nilly, anywhere you want LEGALLY! Senator Stumpf of Thief River Falls, has a bill that would create a series of jet ski trails on our public waters at the expense of canoeists and kayakers. And our County Boards of Commissioners are loaded with "county rights/wise use" law makers with but few exceptions. I am pleased that my County is, for the most part, otherwise.

How do we fight back? I believe we will not be successful unless we seize the middle ground. For instance we must not support moratoriums on logging public lands. Logging is a vital part of the economy and culture here in the north. When we address the environment in our rural communities, we must address it simultaneously with the economic needs of the communities. Logging is not bad, it just needs to be done right. Almost any logger will agree with that. Maybe it just needs its methods tweaked a little. Work with them and not against them. I live and work in northern Minnesota and personally know many loggers and know them to be good, hard working, and honest people. Try selling environmentalism to a Potlatch employee while at the same time you advocate closing the plant. It’s pretty hard to find another job and benefits comparable to the ones he getting there. Again, we have to address environmentalism and economics simultaneously. The environmental movement is going nowhere if it’s going to be a bunch of elitists sitting in an ivory tower.

Snowmobiling, and to a lesser extent, 4-wheeling has been around for so long that most people in the north have learned to just tune them out. We have more or less acquiesced to the fact that we are the destination points and launching pads for snowmobiles and ATV’s, although that is beginning to turn around cause of the exponential growth in OHV’s and the "in your face" nature of the sport. But we must take into account that snowmobiling is an integral part of the economy. When my wife and I are broke and destitute for winter business in our little "Ma & Pa" motel, we are awful glad to have any business, snowmobile or otherwise. Many businesses rely on snowmobiling for survival in the winter. Many of these businesses did not create this culture of recreation but that doesn’t make them the less dependent because of it.

How would you feel if you owned a small Minnesota business and your meager winter income was to go down the tubes. If you are going to trash snowmobiling cart blanche, than you better find something to replace it with. Not all snowmobilers are bad. What’s bad is we are rewarding snowmobiling with too much "dedicated gas tax" funds and over 18,000 miles of snowmobile trails. That’s more miles of snowmobile trails than there is in our state highway system. Maybe they need to pick up a little more of the load themselves.

The "wise-use" movement has been able to paint environmentalism as out of touch, barring extraction, locking up public lands, in bed with animal rights activists like PETA, and allied with fringe wacky groups like ‘Earth First.’ This has allowed them to gain the upper hand by fragmenting us. To gain the upper hand we have to get connected to the everyday concerns of Americans; their jobs, communities, health care, and a clean and healthy environment in which to live and recreate. This means not alienating mainstream America. This is a battle for the hearts and minds of Americans.

The opposition has provided us with fertile fields of vulnerability. All we have to do is recognize them and seize it. We have to quit ‘singing to the choir.’ We need to go grassroots and listen to the needs and concerns of ordinary Americans. There is plenty of common ground in which to align our message to the grassroots.

Our opponents are ripping off America, assaulting the taxpayer, and have a lack of concern for the American working public. The opportunity for coalition building is there for the taking. Take working people; recently a western official of the AFL/CIO was invited to join the "wise use" movement and wrote a blistering attack to Clark Collins of the Blue Ribbon Coalition on "wise use" and their far right, anti-worker agenda.

Loggers have not been given a fair shake from pulp and stud plant manufacturers. In the last 5 years, aspen stumpage has gone up 500 to 600%, while the price the logger gets from the mill has not kept up with inflation. Many independent loggers have gone out of business. Loggers have much to complain about in the way big timber has treated them.

Farmers feel they have been victimized by big chemical companies. I have talked to farmers who know they have become addicted to chemical application on their lands but are not in a position where they can stop because of their low margin and yield competition.

Women and churches have always been allied to the message of mainstream environmentalism. Most people do not have to be told that there is something wrong with our weather and climate. They know things are globally warming. "You don’t need a weatherman to tell you what direction the wind is blowing." Americans want clean air and water, surveys and studies repeatedly show that.  Environmentalists are not culpable in dirtying the environment, it’s big industry. Who forwards industries weakening of clean air and water standards? Government and special interests like Dan Quayle’s Committee on Competitiveness that has gutted environmental regulations. This is "wise use" at its most vulnerable.

Probably the group that is most susceptible to the environmental mainstream message is sportsman. It is our heritage as Americans to have public lands on which to hunt and fish. This is not just a vague notion we have about access to public lands and game and fish, it is a public trust. It is the law of our land. The Supreme Court decision of "Martin vs. Waddell" (1842) established that fish and wildlife is the domain of the public and not the domain of any vested private interest. This is not the case in the Old World where fish and game are the exclusive right and privilege of the wealthy few who own property. In Europe, ordinary people could not hunt or fish because of the lack of large enough blocks of public land and the exclusive ownership of wildlife by the propertied elite. Our ability and rights to hunt, fish, and view wildlife are due to our public land policies and our public trust over wildlife.

If the "wise-use" movement had their way we would have none of these privileges. The "wise use" agenda would privatize all public lands. Remember, our rights to use  public lands are temporary rights, not property rights. And also remember that federal, state, and county forests are PUBLIC forests, not the exclusive domain of industry or the wealthy few that can afford to pay $800 per acre. And a issue that I believe is most important when dealing with the "wise use" and Blue Ribbon Coalition and has been totally lacking in the formula to defeat "wise use" is our belief that our wild lands, wildlife, and public lands is so uniquely a part of our national identity, culture, and heritage as to be part and parcel of our very fiber as Americans. Our myths, cultural origins, and essence as Americans is part of our connection to our forests, mountains, swamps, deserts, and plains. These lands of ours are directly connected to the very notion of freedom.

Our ancestors came to this country to escape something abroad, whether it was political, religious, or social reasons, they came here because there was wilderness. Land available to live in freedom. Wilderness equates to freedom. Maybe they saw the wilds as something to tame, but in doing so it defined them as uniquely as Americans. Yet there always seemed to be more of it. Now as wilderness is an ever shrinking commodity we recognize its value and cultural meaning to the American Psyche.

Abraham Lincoln was born in a one room log cabin in the wilds of Kentucky, was a rail splitter, and maybe the wilds just molded him into the stuff that would save a nation. Daniel Boone was a real man of the wilderness and he continued to flee civilization and seek life in the wilds. Lewis and Clark were more than conquerors of the great west, they went into it with a benevolence and curiosity that speaks to the wonder and grandeur of our landscape. It is impossible not to realize this if you have read their journals. 

In our American mythology and history, the captains of industry, the Carnegies, Rockefellers, and Gettys are not immortalized as heroes, they are "robber barons."  They are historically portrayed as corrupt and unscrupulous in their affairs. How about Enron and Arthur Anderson? And remember the man who gave rise to our public forests and national parks. The man who was the trust buster, the arch enemy of the big corporate America, and friend of the common man, the hunter/conservationist Teddy Roosevelt.

If environmentalists continue to embrace issues of such abstract nature not based in science or reasonableness we will continue to alienate mainstream America which will in turn buy into the slick, deceptive message given by "wise use." They have developed an effective strategy that is gradually winning. Our "’sustainable use’ is a hands down loser to ‘wise use.’" Seize the mainstream! Economics simultaneously with environmentalism! Attack "wise use!" Build
coalitions! Work on a local grassroots level!

Barry W. Babcock is a motel owner in northcentral Minnesota, and has been active in pushing for sensible controls on OHV and ATV use in that state.