[at-l] Highlands Coalition: Saving the Highlands

[papa_bear_nyc@yahoo.com (Papa Bear)]

I read an article in the NY Times this morning (I was on the train =
actually heading for a trailhead in the Hudson Highlands) entitled:

"Coalition asks for Federal Government Assistance in Saving the =
Highlands"
Byline:Robert Hanley
Dateline: Mahwah. N.J. March 20.

The article was accompanied by a map showing basically the whole =
Appalachian Ridge from the Delaware Water gap to the Connecticut line.  =
The Caption for the Map said "A coalition has proposed saving 180,000 =
acres of the Highlands.

The gist of the article is that a group of environmental and civic =
groups has formed a group called the "Highland Coalition" which intends =
to petition the Federal Government to "take a broader role in planning =
and financing land preservation in the New York-New Jersey Highlands, a =
swath of the Appalachians that provides drinking water fore 11 million =
people in the metropolitan region".  The coalitions chairman is Tom =
Gilbert.  Member organizations include the Sierra Club, The Audubon =
Society and the League of Woman Voters.  The Bergen County exec William =
Schuber (a Republican) was also quoted. A forest Service representative, =
Marcus Phelps said preservation was up to the U.S. Congress. The number =
$750 million was mentioned.

This caught my eye to say the least.  If you can't save forest ;land to =
"preserve the perception of wilderness" to quote one of the recent =
endless threads, drinking water should sell better, no?  Mention was =
made of the ongoing drought.

Does any one know any of these movers and shakers?  Do they have a =
snowball's chance in h$ll with this Congress at this point in time?  =
Anyone know how we can help out? Should the ATC or the NYNJTC join the =
coalition?

Anyone?

Pb


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