Our friends over at Wild Wilderness have an action alert on the recent spate of fee increases and closures on public land. Definitely check this one out:

Link

Link

“I see what’s going on in whitebark is really a true ecological threat,” Logan said.

Logan said it’s clear to him that the outbreak is linked to climate and man’s role in making it warmer. Above-normal temperatures allow beetles to survive winters, breed faster and move to higher elevations in places where they have rarely been.

David Gilmour, Rick Wright and David Bowie performing “Anrold Layne” in tribute to Syd Barrett:

Link

The House passed a bill Thursday evening to raise nearly $15 billion in taxes through a combination of higher royalties, added fees and a reversal of tax breaks handed out by the Bush administration and Republican Congress.

Link

WASHINGTON - Major corporations and environmental groups on Friday announced what they called an “unprecedented alliance” to push for quicker action against global warming — urging lawmakers to pass mandatory curbs on carbon emissions, in contrast to President Bush’s voluntary approach.

The Appalachian Mountain Club buys up a huge chunk of land to keep it public, and is ripped by offroaders when it decides to keep a small portion of the land free of logging and motors? More shenanigans from the greedy ORV crowd.

Link

So why did the AMC’s request for $1.25 million from the Land for Maine’s Future program to help pay for a conservation easement on Katahdin Iron Works become lately ensnared in controversy?
Two words: ecological reserve.
The AMC’s sin, in the eyes of critics, was to propose to treat 10,000 acres of its holding as an ecologic reserve. That means hunting, fishing, hiking and cross-country skiing could continue, but not logging and motorized use.

Link

U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas has again introduced a federal bill that would add about 50 acres to Grand Teton National Park.