Since the Army announced its plans to nearly triple the 238,000-acre Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, conservationists,  landowners and politicians such as Reps. Musgrave, Udall and Salazar  have all united to stop the proposed land grab. Not unpredictably, the Gazette has come down squarely in favor of the Army's destructive expansion plan, which would turn more than 400,000 acres of Colorado ranch lands, wildlife habitat and unique ecosystems into an Army training ground.

According to Wooten, the agriculture/conservation alliance that has recently formed on the issue is just one of countless examples of landowners and conservationist finding common ground and working together to benefit Colorado citizens, agricultural interests and unique wildlife:

"Conservationists and ranchers have much in common, and working together is necessary and mutually beneficial. Urban sprawl, invasive weeds and activities that degrade grassland habitats and carbon-storing soils — such as the Army’s Piñon Canyon expansion plan — are the greatest threats to at-risk species and agricultural lands here," said Wooten.

Examples of landowners and conservationists working together that Wooten cited included preserving renewable grassland resources, promoting renewable energy, stopping water grabs along the Front Range, in the lower Arkansas River valley and South Park. Click the following links to read the 7/12/07 letter to the editor the  letter to the editor in full and  the Gazette's  wrong-headed  Op-Ed.

Given Center for Native Ecosystem's work with landowners in the last two years on the Endangered Species Act, U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation incentive programs and harmful legislative policy, we couldn't agree more, Steve.