Information for visitors new to the Council When European settlers arrived in North America, they explored a continent that looked much different than the one we see today: polar bears wandering as far south as Cape Cod, millions of buffalo roaming the plains in herds some forty miles long, waters teeming with giant sea turtles Ñ some too heavy for three people to carry, flocks of passenger pigeons so thick they blacked out the sun and a pristine, practically unbroken forest that stretched from the Atlantic to the Mississippi River. Today, our public lands offer a mere glimpse at the unspoiled beauty that once graced the entire continent. Sadly, even these islands of life are now at risk. The mismanagement of our public lands is a sad legacy of greed and destruction. Driven by the fever of manifest destiny, the first leaders of our nation managed public lands with one goal in mind: turn it over to private ownership, settle it and raze it. At the time, it seemed as if both industry and the citizens of the United States were well served by such policies Ñ a myopic misperception that took nearly 100 years to change even slightly. During the late 19th century, the creation of the first national parks, forests and wildlife refuges reflected a new approach to federal lands management. Instead of using public lands to promote settlement, Congress began to realize that some of these lands could better serve the public interest if left in the federal domain. But they still ignored the essential resources these lands provide: clean land, air, soil and water. In 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park in the world, set aside for the "benefit and enjoyment of the people." By 1903, the near-extinction of buffalo and many bird populations garnered public support for preservation and Teddy Roosevelt created Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge off the coast of Florida. Subsequent refuges were designated, primarily to protect endangered birds. The U.S. Forest Service was established in 1905 to manage the few forests that the voracious private logging industry had left behind: steep, high-elevation forests with spindly trees. The federal government ordered the Forest Service to maintain a "sustained yield" and keep a reserve of timber on these publicly owned forests. But private forests were quickly razed and World War II, followed by the subsequent housing boom, drove up the demand for publicly owned timber. Despite the drive to settle the West, some lands could not be sold or even given away. They were considered unsuitable for wildlife refuges or public parks. These "leftovers" were turned over to the Bureau of Land Management, a federal agency under the Department of the Interior that primarily managed these publicly owned lands for livestock grazing and mining. Once unwanted, these "leftovers" now represent some of our most important natural resources. Today, Americans realize that their publicly owned lands don't represent a frontier to conquer, but the last vestiges of a living life-support system: our source of clean air, water and soil. Our national forests, wildlife refuges, parks and BLM lands are priceless national treasures, offering respite from urban life, a place for emotional and spiritual renewal, and a source of life itself. With so little unspoiled land left, it's become strikingly clear that management agencies cannot simultaneously serve two masters: American citizens and industry. It's also clear, based on current policies, that politicians are listening to industry dollars, not constituents. According to a recent national poll (see story, page 2), Americans want to preserve their public lands by a 2-to-1 margin. Still, most of our public lands are not protected from industrial destruction. Throughout our nation's history, people have successfully forced the government to change. In the fights to end segregation, give women the vote, and stop the Vietnam War the citizens led the way. It's time we turned the tide on the history of public lands and work together to make them Forever Wild.