#ecoflight

Bruce Gordon is one of the founder and pilot for EcoFlight. He’s a good man, sincere in his efforts to protect our western landscapes. Excerpts from the web pages of EcoFlight:

I’ve done several flights on EcoFlight over the mountains and deserts of the western US with Bruce Gordon, pilot, founder and Executive Director of EcoFlight. He recently did a series of flights and, no surprise, had to deal with smoke from all the western wildfires. Here’s a note from Jane, his Conservation Director, based upon what she sees from the air:

White Canyon in the removed part of Grand Staircase Escalante NM

From the notes and blog of Bruce Gordon, Ecoflight captain:

Our flights were with hard-core desert rats, knowledgeable people who have lived on and loved this wild country for decades. Some are now local business owners, and everyone gathered to share their perspectives with the Guardian Newspaper who are doing a large piece on the Grand Staircase Escalante Monument under the Trump administration.

Trump's attack on the monument has significantly increased the threat of mining within the original boundaries with the re-filing of expired mineral claims and a mining company's acquisition of the Colt Mesa area for hard mineral extraction. The Department of Interior is focused on expediting the process of exploitation even while the legality of Trump's proclamation remains unresolved. DOI's management plan opens up 700,000 acres to mining, and plan to sell off 1,610 acres of public lands.

The flight was spectacular even with the muted shades of smoky gray, and the conversations in the cockpit were illuminating. Everything from newly proposed mining sites to the history of the Mormons settling the area was discussed. One explanation of why people in the area are so possessive of the surrounding lands was that G-d herself gave these promised lands to the Mormons. One scholar aboard likened it to Zionism, and hence a fierce defiance of federal intervention to protect any of these lands on a federal level. Enter the Sagebrush revolution and a conservative agenda to keeping the land free from any kind of restrictions whatsoever.

In this time it feels like we are stuck in a past where we are still fighting to save the monuments that we already fought so hard to create - we need to get back to the future! A future where the generations to come will get to experience truly wild places while getting a glimpse into the past in places like Escalante and Bears Ears.

In the coming months, we’ll be spotlighting some of the incredible people who work day in and day out, volunteer their free time, and give their energy and support towards protecting our amazing BLM Wild public lands.

“Conservation Flying.  I have had the privilege of helping to create and promote this concept for over 30 years now.

During that time countless hours and thousands of miles have been flown over BLM lands to show the majesty and beauty and the timeless features that comprise our BLM system.

What we do with our aerial overflights at EcoFlight is to ‘Give the Land a Voice’, flying politicians, media representatives and concerned citizens to educate and advocate for the environment.

Balancing resource extraction and the many uses of these extraordinary landscapes is a continuing challenge, and the challenge of my lifetime, and in my opinion there is no better way to see the land and understand landscapes and ecosystems and biological connectivity than from the air.

Whether it is the Grand Staircase Escalante or the San Rafael Swell, Dirty Devil River Red Desert, or dozens of other regions, EcoFlight is grateful to have the ability to show diverse communities and stakeholders the opportunities and challenges that go into managing our public lands.”

- Bruce Gordon, President, pilot, founder of EcoFlight