kamal
10-10-2018, 02:52 PM
The IPCC says that we have just about 10 years to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 deg. But our elected officials don't seem to be paying attention. Now, they want to open up Marin County's public lands to permanent farmed animal grazing. These are not lands that aren't in any danger of desertification. Yet, they want to put animals on there that will destroy the carbon sequestering plant matter and emit potent GHGs (methane and nitrous oxide) into the atmosphere instead.
https://www.restoreptreyesseashore.org/?p=1037
Please contact Jared Huffman and ask him to put a stop to this insanity!
kamal
10-11-2018, 07:23 AM
Here is haffman's contact page. You can only contact him through the website if you live in his district. Otherwise you can call the number.
Jared Huffman <cite>https://huffman (https://<strong>huffman</strong>).house.gov/contact</cite>
Local: (415) 258-9657
D.C. Phone: (202) 225-5161
Fax: (202) 225-5163
AND Need to have zip code in his district PLUS FOUR DIGITS (
If you do not know the four digit +4 extension for your zip code, please check the
U.S. Postal Service (https://www.usps.gov/ncsc/lookups/lookup_zip+4.html)
website for more information.)
Sample letter
Add your own words and concerns about management practices at Point Reyes Seashore to this sample letter, send letters to:
Senator Dianne Feinstein https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact
Representative Jared Huffman https://huffman.house.gov/contact
Dear Senator/Congressman,
I/My family lives in_______. We enjoy visiting our national parks and am contacting you about concerns regarding the management of the Point Reyes National Seashore.
By law, the National Park Service is mandated to manage all national parks in a manner which provides maximum protection, restoration, and preservation of the natural environment for generations to come.
The long-overdue General Management Plan Amendment (GMPA) for Point Reyes National Seashore must make the preservation and restoration of the park’s natural values, its native wildlife, archeological resources, and public use and enjoyment its highest priority.
The GMPA must set standards and conduct monitoring to ensure that ranching does not damage park ecosystems or negatively impact wildlife habitat, endangered species, archeological sites, water quality, native vegetation, public recreation or the aesthetic natural beauty of the park.
Ongoing private cattle grazing is incompatible with the purposes for which the Point Reyes National Seashore was established. Ranching at the Seashore has resulted in overgrazing, water pollution, invasive weeds, and reductions of native species, including some protected under the Endangered Species Act, which I know you support.
We now know that cattle are the Seashore’s #1 source of greenhouse gases that cause climate change.
Tule Elk are an ecologically important part of the landscape of Point Reyes National Seashore. Their recovery is a success story for restoring native ecosystems, consistent with the mission of the National Park Service.
Ranching on public land is not a right, it is a privilege. Commercial lease holders should not dictate wildlife removal or exclusion policies. Confinement, fencing, removal, hazing, and killing of wildlife in the national park for the benefit private ranch operators is unacceptable.
Given the founding purposes of Point Reyes National Seashore, commercial leases or activities at the Seashore should not conflict nor interfere with the protection of natural or cultural resources or public access to the park.
Tax dollars subsidize ranching in the national park, but taxpayers have limited access to large parts of the Seashores, at times further limited by fences, locks, and signage posted by ranchers. The GMPA must ensure, and the NPS must enforce the public’s right to access the park.
Allowing private ranches to expand operations at the Seashore would reduce public access to the park, damage wildlife habitat, and degrade water quality. I am opposed to the ranchers’ demand to grow commercial row crops and introduce sheep, goats, pigs, turkeys or chickens to the national park, which would create conflicts with and pressure to kill native predators like bobcats, coyotes, and foxes.
Sincerely,
kamal
10-11-2018, 07:25 AM
Seems like this legislation was written to appease ranchers who were disappointed with the re-introduction of the Elk to the area.
SF Gate: Reintroduced tule elk compete with cattle on Point Reyes (https://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Reintroduced-tule-elk-compete-with-cattle-on-5816969.php)
Center for Biological Diversity agrees (https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2018/point-reyes-national-seashore-elk-09-25-2018.php).