Environment and Natural Resources
We in Idaho are proud of our natural resources and land. I continue to support legislation that protects our environment for future generations, while respecting the rights of property owners and balancing the needs of the community. Conservation and progress do not need to be at odds. President Roosevelt had it exactly right--we must be careful with what we do with our environment as it will last far beyond our lifespans and become part of what we leave for our children and future generations. Through a common sense approach of collaboration and cooperation, we can achieve workable solutions to some of the most challenging issues involving our land, environment and natural resources.
I support the collaborative model because there are solutions to our land management issues that are better for both the economy and the environment. Several collaborative efforts are underway in Idaho and I encourage you to note the links on my site to learn more about the legislation I have introduced to preserve endangered species, solve land use issues in Idaho and much more.
The Owyhee Initiative, signed into law in 2009, is a good example of the success of utilizing collaboration regarding public lands issues. It took eight years of hard work and long hours by Owyhee County Commissioners, the Owyhee Initiative work group and many others to arrive at this legislation passed as part of an omnibus lands bill. The Owyhee Initiative put to rest decades of conflicts in Southwest Idaho and brought agreement among recreational groups, ranchers, conservation groups, local residents, elected leaders and others. I am proud to have shepherded this agreement through the Congress and into law and I commend the participants in the process, which can be a model for other agreements.
The federal government can be a useful partner in these efforts and Congress must ensure that federal agencies maintain wise stewardships of our Idaho lands. I spearheaded federal legislation to create the federal Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Act (CFLRA), which is preserving our environment and creating jobs that benefit our economy and local governments. That legislation is already creating dozens of jobs in Idaho as work progresses under the Clearwater Basin Collaborative (CBC).
