Congress sets aside new protected wilderness lands

The US Congress has voted to set aside nearly two million new acres to be designated as protected wilderness lands in a sweeping move to preserve some of our cherished forests.  The new wilderness protection legislation grants  the highest level of protection to forestland across California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.

Environmental groups and lawmakers in both parties have long pushed for the bill, which will strengthen the national park system, restore forests, preserve rivers, protect historic battlefields and allow more balanced management of public lands.

Included in the bill are such wonderful sites such as Canyons of the Ancients in Colorado, Red Rock Canyon near Las Vegas, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan and Zion National Park in Utah.  The proposals expand wilderness designation and wilderness protection, which blocks almost all development, into areas that are currently not protected.