7-6-07
To Whom It May Concern:
For a day in May in 2004 and
2005, I joined several friends in Lake County to determine how many species of
birds we could observe in a single day. Visits in the major protected
areas in the county helped us find more than 100
species.
As a resident of central
Wisconsin where large expanses of natural areas blanket the
landscape,
I was surprised that the
natural areas in Lake County seemed like islands surrounded by
development.
Biological diversity in
islands is proportional to the size of the island. Consequently, I was
also surprised by the low diversity of species in some of the “islands” in Lake
County compared to similar but
larger natural areas in Wisconsin. It was obvious that every effort must
be made to preserve the treasured natural areas of Lake
County.
Consequently, I wish to
express my concern about the proposal to construct a new equestrian
facility
in Lakewood Preserve.
Surely this facility can be located in an area that has already been
developed.
I am certain the wild Sandhill
Cranes and the other wildlife in the Lakewood Preserve would if they could join
me in expressing this concern. We humans must be the voice for the
conservation of our natural heritage.
Sincerely
yours,
George
Archibald.
Co-founder and
Senior Conservationist
Chairman, IUCN
Crane Specialist Group
International Crane
Foundation
E11376 Shady Lane Road/P.O. Box
447
Baraboo,
Wisconsin, 53913-0447 USA
608-356-3454 /
Fax: 608-356-9465
"Working worldwide to conserve cranes and the
wetland, grassland and other ecosystems upon which they
depend."