IMPORTANT HEARING 5/17 on Saving Otero Mesa

From the Wilderness Society:
Do you care about preserving the grand landscape and wildlife habitat that characterizes Otero Mesa? If so, please attend the US District Courts evidentiary hearing on May 17th in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Perhaps you've never attended a hearing of this nature before. Don't worry. You will not be asked to speak, but rather, simply show your support by attending.

What: U.S District Court for the District of New Mexico evidentiary hearing on the Bureau of Land Management public land known as Otero Mesa.

When: Wednesday, May 17, 2006, 9:00 AM

Where: The Honorable Bruce D. Black's Chambers
United States District Court
333 Lomas Blvd. N.W., Ste 640
Albuquerque, NM 87102

What's At Stake
Otero Mesa is home to the Chihuahuan Desert, which extends southward from New Mexico, Texas and Arizona into the Mexican Plateau and covers an area of 250,000 square miles and is considered to be among the most biologically rich and diverse desert eco-regions in the world. This vast and complex grassland is home to many species of wildlife, native plants and independent cattle ranches that have been in operation for generations. Otero Mesa is also a recreationist's dream. Hiking, camping, birding, hunting, rock climbing, photography and horseback riding are a few popular activities.

Otero Mesa is not currently designated as Wilderness. However, the NM Wilderness Alliance has surveyed the Greater Otero Mesa Area and identified over 520,000 acres suitable for Wilderness designation. But if it is turned into a full-scale oil and gas field, Wilderness and much of the wildlife that live there will be lost forever.

The Wilderness Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving American wilderness. Our mission is to ensure that future generations will enjoy the clean air and water, wildlife, beauty, and opportunity for recreation and renewal provided by pristine forests, rivers, deserts, and mountains. As a subscriber to WildAlert, you join more than 300,000 Wilderness Society members and supporters in our efforts to protect and restore America's wild places.