National Public Lands Day
September 19, 2003
Des Moines --- Saturday (September 20th) is the 10th annual National Public Lands Day. Across the country volunteers will work to improve wildlife habitat, plant trees, remove trash, and build trails and bridges. Comments from Campaign for America's Wilderness executive director Mike Matz and Erin Jordahl with the Iowa Sierra Club.
Suggested script: SATURDAY IS THE 10TH ANNUAL NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY. ACROSS THE COUNTRY VOLUNTEERS WILL WORK TO IMPROVE WILDLIFE HABITAT, PLANT TREES, REMOVE TRASH, AND BUILD TRAILS AND BRIDGES. MIKE MATZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CAMPAIGN FOR AMERICA'S WILDERNESS, SAYS THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IS BEING TWO-FACED WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING PUBLIC LANDS.
Actuality Cut #56%%ID%% (TRT: 20) "On the one hand, they're part of some of the celebrations around the country, but on the other hand, they're adopting policies that undermine protection of these public lands, and in fact, making it difficult for people to get a special place for them protected as wilderness."
ERIN JORDAHL WITH THE IOWA SIERRA CLUB SAYS WHILE IOWA DOESN'T HAVE ANY FEDERAL PUBLIC LANDS, WE NEED TO SAVE THE LAST LARGE NATIVE PRAIRIE, THE LOESS HILLS.
Actuality Cut #57%%ID%% (TRT: 22) "We need to look at the lands that are still publicly owned, that are owned by the state or the counties and do restoration work on those. Get rid of the cedar trees, help to bring back the prairie grasses. And then on lands that are privately owned, work with those landowners to put in conservation practices."
Suggested tag: JORDAHL SAYS LOESS HILLS IS CURRENTLY UNDER THREAT BY DEVELOPMENT AND OVERGROWTH OF NON-GRASSLAND PLANT SPECIES.
Editor's note: Interviews with Mike Matz can be arranged by calling Erica Stanley at 202-266-0437. Erin Jordahl can be reached at 515-277-8868.
Erin E. Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
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www.iowa.sierraclub.org