In honor of Earth Day 1999, Aspen Skiing Company joined the Colorado Wilderness Network, a coalition of more than 125 organizations supporting a proposal that aims to preserve 1.4 million acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in western Colorado through wilderness designation. The 'Citizens' Wilderness Proposal for BLM Lands," drafted by conservationists in 1994 after years of study, was recently introduced as a bill in the U.S. Congress. Partners in this project include the Sierra Club, the Wilderness Society, Colorado Environmental Coalition, the Colorado Mountain Club, and Western Colorado Congress.

"We believe that this wilderness designation is good for the skiing industry and good for the economy of our state," said CEO and President of Aspen Skiing Company, Pat O'Donnell. 

"Our industry's success depends upon the preservation of the natural beauty that tourists come to experience. As corporate partners, we hope to show other businesses that Colorado's economy rests on protecting its natural amenities," said O'Donnell. 

"In the 'new western' economy, increasingly based upon recreation, the key to sustainable economic development is conserving the natural assets that make our region an attractive place to live and conduct business." "The role of business is not just to make money but also to improve peoples lives and the world around us. It's important that businesses recognize their place in and dependence upon the natural environment," said Aspen Skiing Company's Director of Environmental Affairs, Chris Lane. "I'm proud that we have this opportunity to take an active stance in shaping the landscape around our business." 

The land under consideration-currently managed by the BLM-includes Browns Canyon on the Arkansas River, Dominguez Canyons, Castle Peak, Gunnison Gorge, and even some additions to the Snowmass-Maroon Bells Wilderness. The initiative is in line with both ASC's guiding principles and the values of its customers. (Not surprisingly, a League of Conservation Voters poll found that 80 percent of Coloradans support wilderness designation for some BLM land.) 

Colorado's economy increasingly depends on the state's natural beauty, which, in addition to creating a growing tourism and recreation industry, draws new businesses seeking improved quality of life. Yet only 5 percent of Colorado's 66.7 million acres are protected as wilderness-according to the Wilderness Society, that's only 13% of all federal lands in the state. The Colorado Wilderness Network proposal would convert an additional 2% of Colorado land to wilderness. As defined in the 1964 Wilderness Act, wilderness is "an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain." Wilderness designation prohibits motorized traffic, logging, and road building, but keeps the land open to hunting, fishing, hiking, livestock grazing, boating and wheelchair use. Says T.J. Brown of the Four Corners Wilderness Society: "Having Aspen Skiing Company as a partner in this initiative will definitely help bring other businesses on board." 

For more information, look up the following websites: www.wilderness.org, www.cecenviro.org, www.rmc.sierraclub.org.