[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 22349]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, the focus of National Public Lands Day, 
2003, is to improve and conserve our Nation's forests, grasslands, 
plains, rivers, streams and wetlands. As last year, we can expect tens 
of thousands of volunteers to join our dedicated land managers in 
projects across the country to protect America's rich natural resources 
and improve our opportunities to enjoy them.
  Year and year National Public Lands Day volunteers are maintaining 
the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps, CCC, who exemplified 
land stewardship through the thirties and into the forties. National 
Public Lands Day continues to serve, as did the CCCs, to build a sense 
of ownership for our public lands. I believe this land stewardship and 
sense of ownership are most critical today as many changes are 
occurring which are affecting our public lands. I would like to spend 
just a few minutes to discuss these changes, how they are affecting our 
public lands and what we are, and can be, doing to address these 
impacts.
  Our first concern is fire and fuels. Many of you are well aware of 
the catastrophic wildfires that have been occurring across the country 
over the past several years. This is a direct result of changing forest 
conditions that have led to a large build-up of fuels. Through 
legislated authorities such as Stewardship Contracting, communities are 
working with resource professionals and private contractors to address 
this situation while providing jobs, products and local income. We need 
to continue this work together to thin our forests, reduce hazardous 
fuels and restore the landscape to a more balanced condition. We need 
to continue to work together to provide more defensible space around 
our communities. Through legislation such as the Healthy Forest 
Initiative we can facilitate such projects that will protect our 
communities, our watershed and other at-risk lands. By continuing to 
work together we can address these hazardous conditions with win-win 
solutions.
  The introduction and spread of unwanted invasive species is another 
concern. Noxious weeds, non-native fish species and introduced insects 
are just a few examples of invasive species that can wreak havoc on our 
public lands and across all ownerships. Throughout the country, local 
governments, private landowners and public land managers are working 
together to build strategies and share resources to combat invasive 
species across broad landscapes. Working together we can develop 
prevention plans to keep unwanted species out and control plans to 
reduce or eradicate unwanted species that have already arrived. Working 
together we can ensure that our public lands will remain healthy 
habitats for the plants and animals that enrich our lives.
  Another concern is that, across the country, farms, ranches and other 
large tracts of open land are disappearing. These open spaces are being 
converted into neighborhoods, shopping malls and commercial complexes. 
In many respects these developments bring progress and benefits. In 
other ways these changes are creating a ripple effect on our public 
lands. Uses that were once spread across open lands owned by many are 
now being concentrated on the open lands remaining--Public Lands. 
Working together we can address these issues by considering these 
effects prior to development. Working together we can anticipate the 
increased demands such development will have on public lands and 
prepare our land managers to meet those demands. Working together we 
can find ways to promote development and protect our public lands.
  Our last major concern is unmanaged outdoor recreation. Americans are 
hard working, but in our time off we like to play as hard as we work. 
More and more, many of us like to recreate on our Nation's public 
lands. As a result the numbers of recreationists and types of 
recreational activities are increasing at a staggering rate. This is 
creating a situation that leaves land managers struggling to keep up 
and the public frustrated with unmet expectations. To help with this 
situation, across the country, volunteers, user groups and resource 
professionals are working together to provide trail systems that 
provide high quality, safe experiences for hikers, stock users and OHV 
riders of all ages. Senior citizens and other volunteers are providing 
campground host services to ensure safe, enjoyable camping experiences. 
And volunteers are providing interpretive services and educational 
programs to enhance American's understanding of their natural 
environment. Through efforts such as these we can keep our Public Lands 
special places for all Americans to use and enjoy.
  Public Lands are a national resource and a national treasure. The 
spirit of volunteers demonstrated on National Public Lands Day and the 
examples I've given of communities working together with resource 
professionals shows what can be done when we pull together. Working 
together on National Public Lands Day, and every day, will ensure that 
these lands are here for our enjoyment for generations to come.

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