October 28, 2005. Dr. Diane Hite of Auburn University
has prepared a white paper for WildLaw on the economic potential of the creation
of a Black Belt Prairie National Grassland in central Alabama. WildLaw, The
Nature Conservancy, the University of West Alabama and many others have been
working for some time on the proposal for the creation of what would be the only
National Grassland in the Southeast. See below a copy of an opinion piece
giving details on the proposal, as published by The Montgomery Advertiser
on August 24, 2005 (the link to the actual article is no longer operative).
As this white paper makes clear, the creation of
the grassland could be expected to have a very positive and long-lasting
economic effect for the region and Alabama. With a more thorough analysis, we
would know in greater detail how much of an economic impact a National Grassland
would have, particularly if developed in conjunction with the expansion of
I-85. WildLaw is working on putting together the resources needed to prepare
that more detailed, one-year study of the region.
The White Paper can be downloaded in PDF format
here.
Alabama Voices: Project could also restore lost prairie
By Ray Vaughan
Imagine seeing a herd of bison grazing in the grass, surrounded by blooming
flowers. Imagine a prairie where migratory birds stop in the spring and autumn,
attracting thousands of tourists to watch them.
Imagine a place where the heritage and history of Native Americans, French
explorers, settlers, the Civil War and the civil rights movement are all
preserved and celebrated together. Imagine a place like no other in the entire
Southeast, where nature and tourism come together to give a boost to a region's
economy. Now imagine all these things in central Alabama.
Looking at a satellite photograph of Alabama, one can still see the distinct
crescent of the Black Belt. The geological feature is still there, obvious from
space. But the fabulous and rich prairie that once covered most of it is now
almost completely gone. Gone are the bison. Gone are the red wolves. Almost
extinct are many of the plants that lived only there. But we can put many of
these pieces back together.
As with all new interstates, the expansion of I-85 from Montgomery to
Mississippi will require a certain amount of environmental mitigation for the
land the new road uses and the environmental impacts it will have. The idea here
would be to use some of the mitigation money for the I-85 expansion to purchase
from willing sellers up to 100,000 acres for restoring the Black Belt prairie.
Some remnants of the original prairie still exist and would be the seed sources
for restoring larger areas.
Most of this land would probably come from large timber companies, many of
which already desire to sell their land holdings in the region. This land would
be designated a National Grassland and administered by the U.S. Forest Service,
which handles all other National Grasslands. As the only National Grassland in
the Southeast, this Black Belt prairie would be a unique tourism destination.
Key elements of this new National Grassland would be:
- Ecological/biological: Protection and enhancement of unique and rare ecosystems and species.
- Recreational: Opportunities for recreation and economic development through hunting and eco-tourism.
- Historic: Preservation and showcasing of cultural and historic aspects of the region.
- Sociological: enhancement of the region's culture and development.
Development of the grassland would be beneficial for rare species, thus
reducing pressures on private lands to provide habitat for those species.
Developing this natural resource could prevent further loss of a number of rare
species in a state that is fourth in the nation in endangered species.
Alabama has less public land for outdoor recreation than any other state in
the Southeast. This grassland would provide more public hunting land and unique
bird and wildlife watching opportunities. Bird and wildlife watchers spend more
than $38 billion per year on equipment and travel.
People talk of the need to increase and diversify the economic base of the
Black Belt. The expansion of Interstate 85 will help do this, but giving the
region a unique tourism destination for people to go to using the new interstate
would do so much more for the region.
This is our chance to make a new interstate be so much more than just another road.
Ray Vaughan is the founder and executive director of WildLaw. He is also
secretary of the board of the I-85 Corridor Alliance, an organization of
governments, businesses, universities and other groups working to improve the
economic development and quality of life along I-85 in Alabama.
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