Thousands descend on Capitol to celebrate public lands
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The following is a news release from the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.
BOISE — On Idaho Day, outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes celebrated public lands at the Idaho Capitol.
Nearly 3,000 hikers, bikers, hunters, campers, rafters and other outdoor advocates filled the Capitol Rotunda and chanted “keep public lands in public hands.”
“The day was a roaring success,” said Rialin Flores, Legislative Associate for Conservation Voters for Idaho, a member of Idahoans for Public Lands, who organized the celebration. “We made a strong statement that Idahoans are for public lands, and they won’t stand for any legislative attempts that support the state seizure of our treasured places.”
Despite rainy weather, the crowd filled the south steps of the Capitol and listened to speakers representing the hunting industry, the off-highway vehicle community, the Shoshone-Bannock tribes, and a variety of other outdoor interests.
There were people in full fishing gears. There were hunters in full camouflage. Rafters wore lifejackets and waved signs affixed to paddles. There were dogs, puppies and children.
The signs ran the gamut from political – “My Labrador is smarter than Idaho’s Labrador” — to sentimental – “Saving public lands for my grandchildren.”
Idaho is 62 percent public lands, including lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service. Thousands enjoy Idaho’s 32 million acres of public ground daily, fueling a vibrant, self-sustaining economy.
Despite being treasured by outdoor enthusiasts, public lands consistently are under attack from private interests who want to turn public lands over to the states. At any given time, there are a number of legislative attempts – both at the state level and nationally – to give away public ground.
Rally organizers believe the large gathering sent a clear message that Idahoans want public lands to stay public.
“Today, Idahoans showed their love of the outdoors,” said Rob Thornberry, Idaho Field Representative for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “We made a clear statement that lawmakers should drop their efforts to give away public lands.”