Dear HCN,
I feel compelled to
respond to Todd Wilkinson’s May 2 article, “Utah ushers its frogs
toward oblivion,” because it exemplifies one of the greatest
problems facing contemporary conservation issues today:
polarization. Wilkinson’s article does not just present the arena
of opposition but pushes the fighters further into their respective
corners. This article promotes antagonism and polarization by
presenting half-truths. Worse, sentiment created from such an
article may undo fragile balances that have been achieved toward
protecting and recovering our native amphibians and reptiles.
Furthermore, it undermines the conservation efforts of numerous
Utah native wildlife biologists across the state, including Dave
Ross. Years of precious victories can be unravelled by several
words of misconception or sensationalism.
This
article was disheartening not so much in that it presented the
obvious political complications facing wildlife conservation in
Utah, but because it was an inaccurate, incomplete assessment
coming from a well-respected conservation group we thought was an
ally. That this article presents a situation that occurred three
years ago, but was not accurately or comprehensively updated to
reflect the current program supporting native amphibians, reptiles
and fish in Utah, suggests irresponsible journalism. I will not
sort the misleading inconsistencies from the many ugly truths
stated because such an account would not begin to diminish the
greatest damage from this article – not to the reader or the
species at hand, but to the cause of conservation in
Utah.
Although I understand the need to bring
attention to such crucial conservation issues, especially within
the unique and beloved ecosystems of Utah’s deserts, I would only
ask that in doing so, you act responsibly and understand the
implications of your
actions.
Yvette
Converse
Salt Lake City,
Utah
The writer is an aquatic
ecologist for the state of Utah, but is writing as an
individual.
The publisher
responds.
High Country News is a newspaper, not a
“conservation group.” HCN is staffed by journalists, not by
therapists.
If polarization were a concern, top
state administrator Ted Stewart should not have gutted his Utah
Division of Wildlife Resources of 50 scientists; he should not have
gotten rid of law enforcement personnel working on endangered
species violations; he should not have appointed an unqualified
person to head the division; he should not have written to the
governor’s mom that he was holding back on fighting whirling
disease to protect her son; and so on. Writer Todd Wilkinson did
not polarize. With the help of several courageous present and
former employees of the state he reported a story about a political
and environmental atrocity.
Ed
Marston
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Frog story hurt, not helped.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
