What is the economic impact of wilderness designation?
Global economic trends, including changes in energy markets, increased automation in mining and agriculture, improved transportation, and increased demand for services, are changing the employment patterns throughout the United States, including rural Utah. To blame wilderness for declining employment in ranching and mining is to ignore reality. Since areas that are currently being used by extractive industries are roaded and are therefore not eligible for wilderness designation, no current jobs will be lost if over 9 million acres are designated. In addition, livestock grazing is permitted in wilderness. The truth is that rural Utah counties that have become booming economies, such as Grand and Washington, are growing because the public land, open space, and scenery provide the setting for a healthy tourist industry with an influx of people who want to live in such a spectacular setting. Preserving the natural values of existing wild places will provide the basis for sustainable econo
