The BWCA covers 1.1 million acres of pristine lakes, rivers, forests, and wetlands. It holds far greater value in its natural state than any potential minerals that could be extracted from the upstream lands. The BWCA is the most accessible and popular federal wilderness area in the country and serves as the economic hub of the region. It provides vital habitats for various wildlife species, including bald eagles, gray wolves, Canada lynx, moose, loons, ospreys, and numerous songbirds.
The Quetico-Superior ecosystem, spanning 4.3 million acres and encompassing the BWCA, Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario, and Voyageurs National Park, is crucial for mitigating the climate and extinction crises. It plays a vital role in enhancing resilience and adaptation.
Peer-reviewed hydrological studies have demonstrated that mining operations on the federal lands affected by the Biden administration’s decision would lead to pollution of downstream waters in the BWCA. This damage would be irreversible. The editorial acknowledged that achieving mineral self-sufficiency for the United States is neither feasible nor desirable. The small amounts of minerals that could be extracted from the affected lands do not justify the immense harm that upstream mining would inflict on the priceless BWCA.
The author is the national chair of the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters.
While the editorial briefly mentioned the potential of recycling to strengthen the supply chain’s resilience, the significance of recycling in combating climate change is far greater than suggested. Extraction will remain important for the foreseeable future, but the opportunities presented by recycling are more profound than commonly believed.
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Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
