Do your homework on Sierra Monument

There are many accusations being made regarding the Sierra National Monument Project, with the letter from Tim Young (Aug. 31) and Dale Matson (Aug. 30). Mr. Young says it’s “phony” and Mr. Matson says “we have enough wilderness.” I gather that neither of them has spent much time exploring the front country, where most of the damage has occurred.

It’s there that you can easily see the effects of clear-cutting, the logging of large fire-resilient trees, the use of herbicide to kill native species, and the decay of the trail system. I have hiked and driven all over the Sierra National Forest, documenting its condition with more than thousand photos, and it’s in much worse shape than most realize.

So it’s disappointing to see people express anger without doing their homework. In person, this isn’t how most folks behave. I’ve been walking and talking in the gateway communities for about three years, and I’ve met some of the best people I know there. Without their help, there wouldn’t be a monument project.

For those who I haven’t met and who genuinely wish to know more, please contact me at director@sierranationalmonument.org.

This story was originally published September 11, 2016 at 3:17 PM with the headline "Do your homework on Sierra Monument."