1: Recommandations
The Committee was mandated by Congress when it created the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area as part of the Arizona
Desert Wilderness Act of 1990. Congress specified the cross-section of member backgrounds and regional views to increase public
input and advise to the BLM on the Gila Box Management Plan. Advisory Committee members are active in various fields and represent
a good mix of the resource expertise needed to provide input on the Gila Box. This regional input is helpful to balance local
issues and concerns and ensure the area is managed an developed for its resource values. The fact that the Advisory Committee
meetings are open to the public enables the BLM to reach a larger segment of interested publics than can be done with limited
staff and budget locally; community turnout at the meetings in generally very low though. Unfortunately, interest in Committee
participation has also been low. Sometimes, a Call for Nominations must be issued twice before enough qualified candidates
submit applications to fill vacant positions. Each time, the BLM must publish a Federal Register notice which costs additional
money. In the past several years, the "value" of this investment in relation to the input we receive has been discussed.Also,
the same type of committee was required by Congress for the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, which is also within
our District. That committee has not been active for at least nine years and there has been no pressure to re-energize it.
There needs to be a consistent approach so that both committees are handled the same.
Objective(s):
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