Dear HCN:
Many different voices
have been raised in northern New Mexico of late. While Sam Hitt
expressed his opinion in “Green Hate” (HCN, 2/3/97), typical of
what we heard and received is the letter sent by Tim Mylet, who had
earlier presented a petition with 250 signatures to us expressing
frustration over firewood restrictions. In his most recent letter
he again notes the dependence local families have on wood and
thanks the Forest Service for responsiveness to the situation. He
too, is troubled by the divisive atmosphere that pervades the
region.
The recent firewood fracas began because
of restrictions Mr. Hitt and other plaintiffs insisted on in a
settlement agreement, as a result of a lawsuit. We cautioned the
plaintiffs as to the implications. As a result of these new
restrictions, I was forced to send a letter to some 5,000 firewood
permit holders advising them of the changes to their permits. At
this point, people such as Mr. Mylet began to express their
concerns. Interestingly, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had
conducted a field review of our firewood program a month prior and
issued a report stating that we were not adversely affecting the
habitat of the Mexican spotted owl.
In Mr. Hitt’s
opinion piece, he speaks of spiraling demand, snag densities far
below guidelines and makes other statements we cannot confirm. We
see demand as relatively flat over the past decade as, presumably,
more people have sought alternative heating sources such as gas and
solar. As far as snag densities are concerned, again, our data do
not show the deficiencies he noted.
More
troubling is the implication that rural Hispanic community
residents, many with roots through four centuries, do not care or
are not capable of concern for the long-term health of the forest.
As a native northern New Mexican, and in my experience in talking
with residents, I find this to be simply
incorrect.
Our wish is for dialogue and
collaboration to improve the long-term health of the forest as well
as our rural communities. In northern New Mexico, that is our
mission.
Leonard
Lucero
Taos, New
Mexico
Leonard Lucero is supervisor of the Carson National Forest.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline The Forest Service cares in New Mexico.
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