After a meeting of the Republican platform committee it became clear that the party thinks about immediate disposal of the national public parks and forests. Obviously, Republicans do not treat these territories as national treasures.
According to the adopted language the Congress need to urgently pass the universal legislation which will provide an adequate mechanism to make the federal government convey certain public lands to the states.

It encourages the national and state leaders and representatives to use their influence and urge the successful transfer of those lands.

This provision encourages the immediate total disposal of “certain” public lands. It does not define which types of land it will apply to. This will make the national parks and forest, the wilderness areas, and the wildlife refuges absolutely vulnerable and unprotected.

It is not the first time when Republican call for such changes. In 2012, a public land disposal statement was also included in the Republicans’ platform. However, this new position has a new and stronger meaning having in mind the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge takeover which happened earlier in 2016. 

Senator Martin Heinrich stated during a recent floor speech  that public lands ensure that not only millionaires will be able to enjoy the contact with nature. Also, these places give the opportunity to introduce your children to fishing, hunting and hiking. Losing the control over national parks and forests is an absurd just like denying climate changes. As a result, public health and the effective protection of public lands and resources will suffer.

The proposed disposal of national forests, parks, wilderness, and other types of public lands is not the only way the platform of the Republicans addresses environmental issues.  The delegates agreed also on an amendment focused on curbing the Antiquities Act of 1906. This Act effectively protects the various national monuments in the country – from Grand Canyon to the Statue of Liberty. This amendment requires the decision of the state whether a national monument is designated or the national park is proposed. This would strongly limit the ability of the American President to protect the places which are at risk.

And the anti-nature decisions do not end here. The delegates also accepted language stating that the Republican Party considers that the gray wolf, the sage grouse, and the prairie chicken have to be exempt from the protection list of the Endangered Species Act. This is a quite unreasonable attempt of dealing with local issues and the existing conservation management regulation.

The suggestions of the Republicans should be a matter of a wide public debate. Most of the Americans do not own huge companies relying on the natural resources. Most of the American citizens really love the national parks, forests and the charming wild places of the country. Also, most of them realize that the incomes from tourism are much more stable and environmentally friendly than the ones from industry. After all, our generation is supposed to leave the planet inhabitable after itself.