Lesser-Known but "Just as Spectacular"
Monday, July 12, 2010
DOLORES, Colo. - There's an anniversary celebration in Colorado today, as the National Landscape Conservation System turns 10. Brian O'Donnell, who is executive director of the Conservation Lands Foundation, says the system is less well known than the national parks system, but includes areas that are just as impressive as the parks. He cites the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area as one example.
"Spectacular cliffs, fantastic fishing opportunities there; we also have Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, and that has the densest collection of Anasazi ruins known in the United States."
O'Donnell says they plan to celebrate the 10-year birthday today with volunteers working on a restoration project at Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in southwestern Colorado. The project kicks off a four-month "Season of Service" during which volunteers across the country will take part in conservation and restoration activities on National Landscape Conservation lands.
"Restoration work, trail maintenance, education efforts, removal of invasive species; all volunteer efforts to help make sure that these lands are better taken care of by the public, and also a way to celebrate these places."
O'Donnell says the National Landscape Conservation System is somewhat similar to the National Parks system and National Wildlife Refuge system.
"It brings together wilderness areas, national monuments and national conservation areas, along with wild and scenic rivers, into a collection of protected public lands."
The National Landscape Conservation system is made up of about 10 percent of the land managed across the West by the federal Bureau of Land Management.
The anniversary ceremony is 1:00 p.m. at the Anasazi Heritage Center in Dolores, Colorado.
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