Christopher Ketcham

An indictment of the current practices by the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, and the National Parks Service in the management of land in their care.

Public land is leased to private parties for grazing by cattle, for mining, for logging, and for other purposes that do not serve the land. The Federal agencies essentially cave in to private interests so that a small number of persons can destroy the land for their personal profit. By "destroy" I mean eliminate native vegetation, create pollution (air and water), and destroy habitat for native species.

In this book, Ketham describes in grim detail how these effects take place and how Federal agencies give in to private interests while ignoring public. These actions have been going on for many generations and under many different presidents. No recent president has shown enough interest to even cut them back a little.

We are losing our most precious resource and, once gone, it will be nearly impossible to get it back.

And for what? None of the activities allowed on our lands is essential for our wellbeing.

What, then, is to be done? Ketcham doesn't have a perfect answer. Getting the word out is a good start, however. Many Americans are unaware of the costs of these decisions, and how they affect them. What we can do is broadcast this information, let others know, let them become as incensed as Ketcham clearly is (and as I have become).

I for one plan to send copies of the book to my representatives, along with letters asking them to stand up for public lands.… (altro)

Excellent and infuriating as hell! Tis unfortunate that this book will probably be reviewed b people who mostly believe in America's politics, live in the urban world of America, and get out 'there' with their REI purchased gear for a two week trip once or twice a year. They will not understand what the author is talking about and will find criticisms that are mostly invalid. I have had to deal w/ every aspect of the West that is covered in the book and tis the proverbial nail on the head. From Mormons to government employees whose biggest concern is their job, the West is being slowly eroded away to be unrecognizable in the near future. Tis not even debatable really. The West I grew up with is gone for a myriad of reasons, man of which are covered in the book. The ecology is taking a major hit and the only way to know that really is to have seen it before its present day. Enough said. Finished 01.10.19… (altro)