Idaho majority supports Roadless Area protection
March 30, 2000
For Immediate Release
Contact: John McCarthy, Idaho Conservation League, 208 345 6933
Sara Denniston, Idaho Rivers United, 208 343 7481
BOISE - A statewide poll concluded 57 percent of Idaho citizens support the Clinton administration proposal to protect Roadless Areas in National Forests.The level of support jumps to almost two-thirds, 64 percent, when people were asked if they support protection of the remaining 8 million acres of roadless forests in Idaho.
"The level of support is solid and real, and contrary to what Roadless Area opponents have been saying, it's the majority view in Idaho," said John McCarthy, Idaho Conservation League conservation director.
The poll questions show these are real Idaho voices, where 65 percent hunt and fish, two-thirds give Sen. Larry Craig a favorable rating and two-to-one they favor Republican George W. Bush over Democrat Al Gore.
The key question asks the Idaho people if they support the Clinton administration proposal that would continue most recreation, including hunting, camping and fishing, but that logging, new roads, mining, oil drilling and off-road vehicles would be prohibited. In response, 57 percent support it, 38 percent oppose it and 5 percent didn't know.
In Idaho the level of support was highest for young people, ages 18 to 34, with 79 percent support, and for women, 66 percent in favor.
"Young people and women want Roadless Areas protected for the future, to save our healthiest forests and rivers for the next generations," said Sara Denniston, 28, river conservationist for Idaho Rivers United.
Family camping and hiking is the primary use of Idaho's National Forests for 43 percent, while another 26 percent said hunting and fishing is their primary use. More than three-quarters of the respondents, 78 percent, "said they do not participate in any motorized, off-road recreation, like snowmobiling or All Terrain Vehicle riding on a regular basis, while 21 percent said they do.
The Idaho poll was one of 11 states done in the nation. More than half the states demonstrated greater than 70 percent support for protection of roadless areas. Idaho and Montana showed solid majority support, while Washington, Oregon, California, New Mexico, and Colorado showed more than two-thirds of their citizens support Roadless Area protection.
The poll was conducted by Ridder/Braden Inc. of Denver. Five hundred random, Idaho people were asked a set of 25 questions, for a margin of error of 4.3 percent.
Another voice: Whitni (cq) Chapman, midwife, mother, student and community/environmental educator, available for interviews at home. 208 333-0373/ 2356 Warm Springs Ave., Boise.
Idaho Roadless Area poll; sample questions
11. Half of the National Forest lands in the U.S. have already been logged, mined, have roads and remain open to commercial development. 18% is permanently protected. The remaining 31% are wild but unprotected roadless areas. The Clinton administration has proposed to protect nearly all of these remaining wild but unprotected areas. This means that it could be used for most types of recreation, including hunting, camping and fishing, but that logging, new roads, mining, oil drilling, and off-road vehicles would be prohibited. Do you favor or oppose this proposal? (Is that strongly or somewhat support/oppose?)Strongly support: 39%
Somewhat support: 18%
Somewhat oppose: 12%
Strongly oppose: 26%
DK/NA/Refused: 5%12. What if you learned that included in this proposal would be protections for up to 38% of national forest lands in Idaho, or about 8 million acres, which would still stay open for hunting, camping and fishing. Then would you favor or oppose this proposal? (Is that strongly or somewhat support/oppose?)
Strongly support: 39%
Somewhat support: 25%
Somewhat oppose: 9%
Strongly oppose: 21%
DK/NA/Refused: 7%4. Larry Craig
Are you familiar with him? (IF YES:) Are you very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable toward him?
Unfamiliar: : 10%
Very fav: : 31%
Somewhat fav: *35%
Somewhat unfav: 7%
Very unfav: : 8%
DK/NA/REFUSED: 9%16. Do you participate in any motorized, off-road recreation, like snowmobiling or All Terrain Vehicle riding, on a regular basis?
Yes: : 21%
No: : 78%
DK/NA/Refused -3-1%Contact: John McCarthy, Idaho Conservation League, 208 345 6933
mailto:jmccarthy@wildidaho.org
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