Dear Director Joe Stout,

My name is Riley Hood and I represent the World Wildlife Fund. It has come to our
attention that the Bureau of Land Management in California has been allowing
destructive human activities in the California Desert Conservation Area. These
activities include starting fires (which can lead to wildfires), using off-road vehicles,
hunting, and mining. I understand that these activities are fun or provide income,
however they are being done at the expense of the endangered species that inhabit
this area. It is disappointing that the Bureau of Land Management, which is entrusted
with protecting this conservation area and the wildlife in it, is doing the opposite by
allowing harm to come to the habitats of these species.

Wildlife

Some of the imperiled species that inhabit the California Desert Conservation Area
include the Peninsular bighorn sheep, the desert tortoise, and the Joshua tree. Both
the desert tortoise and the bighorn sheep have lost habitat from off-road vehicles in
addition to their other hardships. There are estimated to be mere hundreds of
Peninsular bighorn sheep remaining. While the desert tortoise is technically not yet
endangered, it faces major constrictions in habitat as climate change becomes even
worse, up to 88 percent if the temperature rises by about 3 degrees Fahrenheit. The
Joshua tree will also suffer from climate change and suffers even more from the
wildfires which plague California.

Request

I have no doubt that you are already familiar with these problems, as the Bureau of
Land Management in California has faced several lawsuits for similar issues in the
past. However, the bureau continues to propose plans that are detrimental to the
wildlife of the conservation area. To protect endangered species and desert land, as
well as prevent further law suits, I request that you cease all destructive human
activities in the conservation area.

Questions

1. Why do you continue to propose these plans, despite the fact that they will
damage the habitats of endangered creatures?
2. If your focus for this area is truly conservation, why is wildlife put second to
human enjoyment?
3. Why are off road vehicles still allowed to go through this area, even though they
are proven to damage animal habitats?
4. Have you considered completely outlawing off-road vehicles in the conservation
area, unless used by authorized individuals?
5. Do the benefits of allowing these activities truly outweigh the damage they
cause and the lawsuits your bureau continues to face?

Conclusion

Surely, I am not the only one to ask such things of you. Many wildlife activists are
concerned with the management of the California Desert Conservation Area. I
encourage you to step up and stop these destructive activities from happening. You
can be viewed as the responsible director who enacted change to help save many
endangered species or as the complacent director who contributed towards their
extinction.

Goodwill Statement

I know it is not easy to be the man in charge. I hope that you will take the time to
carefully consider what I have proposed. I look forward to seeing the Bureau of Land Deleted: hope
Management make more responsible decisions in the future and wish you the best in
your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

Riley Hood
World Wildlife Fund