The Road-RIPorter, Spring Equinox 2007
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© 2007 Wildlands CPR
Wildlands CPR works to protect and restore wildland ecosystems by preventing and removing roads and limiting motorized recreation. We are a national clearinghouse and network, providing citizens with tools and strategies to fight road construction,deter motorized recreation, and promote road removal and revegetation.
P.O. Box 7516Missoula, MT 59807(406) 543-9551 www.wildlandscpr.org
Director
Bethanie Walder
Development Director
Tom Petersen
Communications Coordinator
Jason Kiely
Restoration ProgramCoordinator
Marnie Criley
Science Coordinator
Adam Switalski
Legal Liaison/Agency Training Coordinator
Sarah Peters
Program Assistant
Cathy Adams
Montana State ORV Coordinator
Adam Rissien
Newsletter
Dan Funsch
Interns & Volunteers
Mike Fiebig, Laura Harris, Noah Jackson,Andrea Manes, Gini Porter
Board of Directors
Amy Atwood, Greg Fishbein, Jim Furnish, William Geer, Dave Havlick, Rebecca Lloyd, Cara Nelson,Sonya Newenhouse, Patrick Parenteau
Advisory Committee
Jasper Carlton, Dave Foreman,Keith Hammer, Timothy Hermach,Marion Hourdequin, Kraig Klungness, Lorin Lind- ner, Andy Mahler, Robert McConnell, Stephanie Mills, Reed Noss, Michael Soulé, Steve Trombulak,Louisa Willcox, Bill Willers, Howie Wolke
Change is in the air…
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n late 2006, contemplating numerous opportunities to expand our work, WildlandsCPR underwent a strategic restructuring. Unlike corporate speak, this is not a euphe-mism for downsizing – we’re actually expanding, and we’re really excited about it! Notonly are we expanding, but we redefined several existing jobs at Wildlands CPR, again,to take advantage of opportunities in both our restoration and transportation programs.The result is the following: We will now have the equivalent of four full-time staff workingon off-road vehicles, and the equivalent of three full-time staff working in our restorationprogram.As we went to press, we were finishing the hiring process for two new “State ORVCoordinators,” based in Utah and Montana. There are six other State Coordinators,housed in six other organizations (in CO, CA, OR/WA, AZ/NM, ID, and NV). All of the statecoordinators are responsible for working with grassroots activists, agencies and othersto ensure the best possible travel plans as the Forest Service implements its 2005 travelplanning rule. While we have implemented some very successful pilot projects “on-the-ground,” this will be the first time Wildlands CPR has dedicated staff to place-based work.So with our MT and UT coordinators we’ll engage in a new way, which will open up aseries of challenges and opportunities for us.In addition to our State Coordinators, we have redefined our Transportation PolicyCoordinator Position. Our new Legal Liaison/Agency Training Coordinator will be re-sponsible for three key things: 1) coordinating the travel planning litigation of all eightState Coordinators; 2) developing a training program to provide agency staff with toolsfor implementing effective travel plans, and; 3) providing rapid response services to folksworking on travel planning outside of the west, and also providing policy assistance onoff-road vehicle issues not related to travel planning.Finally, we’ve created a new Communications Coordinator position at WildlandsCPR, which will be filled by Jason Kiely. Jason will be splitting his time 50-50 betweenour restoration and transportation programs. On the restoration side, he’ll be creatinga “brand” around the concept of restoration, both within Montana and beyond. On thetransportation side, he’ll be helping the State Coordinators with the media components oftheir campaigns. And over all, he’ll be helping Wildlands CPR get the word out about ourgood work.What does this mean, you might be wondering, for the Natural Trails and WatersCoalition? The Coalition will continue to provide travel planning and internal commu-nications resources for activists working on travel planning (and Wildlands CPR will becoordinating this effort), but it will play a much less public role on these issues. TheWilderness Society will be assuming that public role, with the creation of a RecreationPlanning Program. They’ll be coordinating the efforts of the State Coordinators, and pro-viding national guidance on transportation planning. We’ll be working closely with them,including, as mentioned above, coordinating the litigation strategy and providing somecommunications resources.Here’s the bottom line: as of 2007, the conservation community has far greater capac-ity to address transportation planning on national forest lands, and Wildlands CPR hasa significant portion of that increased capacity. With every national forest expecting toadopt a revised travel plan by 2010, this increased investment is critical, and we’re look-ing forward to taking full advantage of our new structure. Don’t hesitate to get in touchwith us if you have any questions about this effort.
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