PIMA COUNTY COALITION FOR MULTIPLE USE
Do you use private or public lands for recreation, ranching, hunting, prospecting, mining, OHV use, 4x4 travel or trail riding? Do you own or work for a business that sells products or services to private and public land users? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, please read and get involved.
The Pima County Board of Supervisors has adopted the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan (SDCP) and is in the process of implementing the plan. This plan will close up to 85% of the open land in Pima County to recreational, residential, agricultural and industrial uses. The SDCP will affect a minimum of ONE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND acres of land that is presently open for recreation, agriculture, natural resources and/or development in Pima County. This plan requires Pima County to obtain a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered Species Act, Section 10/multiple species permit. This permit forces the county to designate and preserve habitat for all native plants, insects, and animals. The plan presently names 8 species listed as threatened or endangered by the USFWS, however evidence indicates that several of these species never existed or no longer exist in Pima County. The county independently designates an additional 44 species as vulnerable. No one knows how many native species exist. This plan will not only close lands to present uses, the SDCP will cause higher property taxes, higher sales taxes and force more bond elections. The SDCP will halt the sale of Arizona State Trust Lands for school funding, and take funding away from after school activities and law enforcement. The SDCP will cause the loss of jobs and industry.
Exerts from The Role of Adaptive Management, January 2001
Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan
www.co.pima.az.us/cmo/sdcpCharacter of the existing reserve system (page 7)
"Currently, the land reserve system in eastern Pima County is biased towards the protection of medium to high elevation landscape and habitats…the resulting "sky islands" effect provides opportunities for conserving species and habitats…but makes no specific provisions for connectivity between mountainous areas…these medium to high elevation landscapes are managed for multiple uses that pose potential threats to sensitive species; passive and active recreation, hunting, grazing, mining, and a full spectrum of other uses."
Character of the Existing Reserve System (Page 14)
"Habitat fragmentation and degradation as the result of urbanization, roads and highways, backcountry roads/trails, and other linear infrastructure elements represent a significant threat to conservation throughout Pima County."
Conceptual Framework for Future Reserve System (Page 17)
"Approximately one-third of Pima County (excluding the Tohono O’odham Nation) is within the existing reserve system. However, less than 20 percent of the medium and high potential habitat for the Priority Vulnerable Species is within the conceptual "Core Reserve" areas. Nearly half of these species-rich areas are on public or private lands with no specific conservation management…this discrepancy points to an opportunity to evaluate management for these lands before incompatible uses that would preclude conservation efforts are established."
Discussion of AMP Elements to implement the MSHCP (Page 21)
"Habitat degradation and modification … and wildlife mortality…and indirect effects on species due to dispersed recreational activities, wildcat trails and roads, and trail construction and maintenance…off-road vehicle activities…concentrated recreation…historic fire suppression and fuels management…urbanization…human population increases.."
Protection, Restoration, and Enhancement (Page 24)
"Protect sensitive areas by closing roads or trails…by increasing monitoring and supervision of visitor use…revegetation projects to restore habitat in heavily used areas"
Arizona Daily Star Sunday, 24 March 2002, headline
"Endangered Species – or land grab?"
A taste of what’s coming, Arizona Daily Star Wednesday, 10 April 2002
"Closure plans anger cyclist…decision to close the popular Cactus Forest Trail in Saguaro National Park-East to bicyclist…Cactus Forest Trail is being closed to mountain bikers because the Park Service must go through a process of studies…similar to a federal environmental assessment…taking 3 years."
Exerts from the organization Protect the Sonoran Desert
www.sonorandesert.org/property.htm"Private property may not be as sacred as you think. The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibited the federal government from "taking" people’s private property without compensation. But the Constitution’s framers meant this rather literally – the government isn’t allowed to physically take your land. The courts have consistently found that restricting development rights for the common good doesn’t violate the constitution."
Exerts from the San Diego Conservation Plan www.sonorandesert.org/sandiego.htm. "Across the five-county region, certain areas were designated as crucial to the gnatcatcher, and within those areas landowners can build on only 25 percent of their property."Mail To:
Pima County Coalition for Multiple Use
PO Box 43426
Tucson, AZ, 85733-3426
Make check payable to Pima County Coalition for Multiple Use
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PIMA COUNTY COALITION FOR MULTIPLE USE |
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