Defending the desert
In the minds
of far too many people, says former Interior Secretary Stewart
Udall, the Southwest’s public lands are a wasteland.
“Indestructible because there is nothing to destroy; unworthy of
protection.” Now, a new handbook by the Environmental Defense Fund
provides activists and educators with the tools to tackle this
myth. Defending the Desert: Conserving Biodiversity on BLM Lands in
the Southwest begins with a natural history of the arid lands and
explains how human activities such as mining, livestock grazing,
road construction, recreation and water diversion affect
biodiversity. In non-technical language, the handbook describes how
the Bureau of Land Management manages its land, what laws govern
the agency, and how citizens can get involved. The 148-page
handbook is $15 for individuals but free to environmental
organizations or individual activists. Contact the Environmental
Defense Fund, 257 Park Avenue South, New York, NY
10010.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Defending the desert.
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