We are born wealthy

By Mike Dombeck

Chief Emeritus, U.S. Forest Service

National Trustee, Trout Unlimited

 

        I recently returned from Missoula to attend the memorial service of my good friend Dr. Jack Ward Thomas. Jack died of pancreatic cancer at age 81 after incredibly productive life as a scientist and conservation leader. Jack preceded me as Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, was a world renowned elk expert and life-long backcountry hunter and angler.

 

For me nothing could be more appropriate than celebrating National Public Lands Day and National Hunting and Fishing Day in Jack’s memory. Jack was a very gifted writer and story teller. Jack’s words that follow are paraphrased from testimony he gave at a Congressional Hearing concerning the selling-off of public lands:

 

“I was born, raised, and received much of my education in Texas. I worked for the first ten years of my career as a wildlife biologist for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, working with private landowners to benefit wildlife-with particular attention to hunting species. Over the years, paying for the privilege of hunting and fishing on private lands became more and more prevalent. The key to success in these efforts at commercialization of wildlife was the landowner's control of access. In other words, stepping onto private land without permission of the owner was, and is, considered "trespassing"-a punishable transgression of law.

 

I grew up trailing my grandfather, father, and uncles as they hunted quail, squirrels, and rabbits. As was customary, I received a .22 rifle on my twelfth birthday and was allowed to hunt on my own. My grandfather's farm was soon too small to contain my ambitions as hunter and fisherman. I gained access to other farms and ranches through two methods-begging permission and, if permission was denied, sneaking in without detection or, at least, without getting caught. I became proficient in both approaches but never appreciated either. Upon being employed by the state, I gave up sneaking and was reduced to reliance on the largesse of landowners.

 

After ten years I joined the research division of the Forest Service. Our study areas included the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. This was my first exposure to public land-of which, as a citizen of the United States, I was part owner. And, to my delight, there was not a "no trespassing" sign anywhere to be seen. This was land over which I could wander without a thought of asking permission. So long as I had the appropriate license, I could hunt and fish without a by-your-leave from anyone. It seemed a wonder! It still does.

       

I had a right to be there -- a right that ownership ensured. This was, after all, my land. So far as I could determine, this legacy of vast stretches of public land open to all was unique in all the world. I would never be rich enough to own thousands or hundreds or even tens of acres. But as part owner of hundreds of millions of acres of public lands, I was born wealthy.

 

I was privileged to serve the people of the United States for thirty years in the Forest Service and spent time on national forests from Florida to New Hampshire, from Pennsylvania to Oregon, from California to Alaska. These forests were all different but, in one critical sense, they were all the same. They belonged to me, to my children, and to all the American people for today, tomorrow, and forever-unless, somehow, we allow this incredible birthright to be stolen or frittered away.

 

For the last three years of my Forest Service career, I occupied the chief's chair in Washington, D.C. One of the duties of that job was to testify before Congress. In one such hearing, there was discussion of the "disposal" of at least some public land into private ownership or transferal to the states. The chairman asked, "Chief, what is your opinion on the matter of the disposal of public lands?"

 

I told him the story related earlier and concluded as follows: "Mr. Chairman, as an American citizen I am not willing to see my birthright in the public lands diminished. In fact, I would like to see those holdings strategically increased. I believe that I can speak for my two sons who were raised with national forests literally at their back door. They would be adamantly opposed to any loss of their public land heritage. I will even venture to speak for grandchildren who are not yet able to speak at all. Collectively we are not, now or ever, willing to see our heritage in the public lands sold, given away, or transferred to other ownership. These are our lands. They are probably all the lands we will ever own outside of our house lots. These lands are our birthright to be treasured and handed down, enhanced if possible, to our progeny so long as this nation exists."

       

The chairman replied, "Chief, if I understand your answer, it is not only 'no,' it is 'hell no!'"

 

"Well stated," I replied.

 

As the population of the United States grows and the ratio of land to people inexorably decreases and the value of land increases, there will be repeated attempts to divest "we the people" of our public lands. These efforts will never cease. Such efforts have been turned back-time after time. Yet only eternal vigilance will assure the maintenance of the American people's birthright in public land. It is a vigil worth keeping.

       

Jack’ words express my sentiments exactly.