Survey Shows Most Want Roadless Forests
	Compiled By The Daily Press

Most of the country's hunters and anglers want roadless areas in national forests to remain that way, according to a survey commissioned by a national conservation group.

The poll found that 86 percent of anglers and 83 percent of hunters supported keeping roadless areas of national forests free of roads.

Survey respondents want roadless areas to remain open for hunting, fishing and other recreation, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Alliance reported.

The survey was conducted in the wake of President Clinton's proposal to protect more than 50 million roadless acres in national forests from road-building, logging and mining.

Livestock grazing and recreational uses of roadless areas would still be permitted, according to officials.

The plan would cover more than 700,000 acres of the Gila National Forest -- roadless areas of 5,000 acres or more. In 1978, a Forest Service inventory identified 28 roadless sections of the Gila totaling 746,751 acres.

Clinton's proposal does not affect any Forest Service plans to build roads. Most of the roadless lands in New Mexico already are being managed to remain that way, Regional Forester Eleanor Towns has said.

The plan does not require congressional approval, but the Forest Service is subjecting it to a year-long review process.

Opponents have criticized the agency for accepting written comments only until Dec. 20 -- despite a petition seeking a 90-day extension that reportedly was signed by hundreds of southwest New Mexicans.

Following a scoping process, the Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact statement to analyze the effects of eliminating road construction, and the "economic, social and ecological values" of roadless areas.

The EIS then will be subject to public review.

Regarding the survey, the alliance wrote in a news release: "The fact that hunters' and anglers' desire to protect wild country and have access to these areas is not contradictory."

"Experiences in such areas are the gold standard by which the best hunting and fishing experiences are judged," said alliance Director Robert Munson. "The roads debate provides the opportunity for hunters and anglers to champion the value of remote areas, and our right to retain access to these areas."

All the survey respondents purchased either a hunting or fishing license in the past five years, according to the alliance.

The poll revealed that more than 90 percent of the respondents consider hunting and fishing "an important value of the national forests."

A similar percentage said they "place a high value" on protecting water quality, providing habitat for endangered species, and providing places of solitude and natural experiences.

More than 80 percent of those answering the survey said they place a high value on forests "providing hunting and fishing opportunities in remote areas with few roads and few people."

Responsive Management, a Virginia polling firm specializing in natural resources and outdoor recreation issues, conducted the survey in December.

The sample included 600 hunters and anglers. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent, according to the company.

The alliance is an association of conservation groups and individuals supported by a grant from the Pew Charitable Trust.

Six founding conservation groups serving as alliance trustees are the Izaak Walton League of America, Mule Deer Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Trout Unlimited, Wildlife Forever and Wildlife Management Institute.

Munson is founder and former chairman of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The alliance is based in Minneapolis, Minn.

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