Hawaii,Molokai specifically,depends on the Nature Conservancy to maintain what little 'wild' places we have left here-Kamakou Preserve,up top,where the last of native vegetation is,and Moomii beach and headland on the NW corner of the island. Hawaii,Home of Invasive Species,Bird Extinction Capitol of the World,perfect micro-system of the greater world that needs to be saved against all the modern assaults on Nature.I work with the birds.I believe and support what all environmental/ecological(logical?)entities strive to protect for the future generations..and lets get Monsanto out of the Islands!!

My most vivid memories of my childhood were our camping trips. whether it was in the magnificent Redwoods ,Yosemite or the local campgrounds in our area it taught me to respect the ethereal beauty of our world. The humbling feeling of hiking through Muir Woods watching the the Bluejays eat from our hands or just simply staring at the true magnificence of a 2,000 year old tree. It saddens me to see how humans are destroying this earth? I feel honored to be a part of this community.

We must work together to protect the beautiful and natural places we love. Indeed, our very lives and futures depend on saving the natural places. Let us move forward to protect, care for and share as much of nature as we possibly can.

I grew up on a small dairy farm near Dufur, Oregon. We had a good fishing stream running through the middle of our farm. When I was about 10 years old someone in the agriculture department decided it would be a good idea to bulldoze the stream, get rid of all the fallen trees crossing it, straighten out the corners, in the interests of flood control. I argued against it because of all the little fish in the pools by the logs, but the bulldozers came. Now streams are being restored by putting back those logs and curves. I am a life-long Oregonian and nature conservationist.

Until quite recently I lived very close to Biscayne Bay National Park, Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, private land in the Everglades, and the no-longer-pristine waters of the SE Fla. Atlantic Coast, Florida Bay and the shallows and flats in the Florida Keys. I watched as human activity "pushed the envelope" resulting in development further and further into unique ecosystems. Now the 'Glades and it stilll-wild neighbors faces a new human-induced threat to the ecosystem: Asian, African and South American snakes. The population has grown from released or escaped pets. The exotic snakes have no natural enemies except alligators that might take medium-sized snakes and wading birds that might take hatchlings in the water or at the water's edge. The most numerous invaders are the Burmese Bald Pythons but the population of Anacondas is growing. I have tried to convince several senior people in various Federal agencies that allowing hunting for a day or two a few times a year, and offering a significant bounty, could keep the population in check. Hunting is not allowed in National Parks by statute, so it would take an Act of Congress to set up such a system. Until we (humans who care) figure out something that we can do, larger members of the various invasive snake species will be (collectively) taking any mammal, bird, reptile or fish that it recognizes as sized correctly for its jaws. Even if you disagree strongly with my "hunting solution," please join me in trying to find some solution and convincing "the powers that be" to implement it.

The county park systems in New Jersey should be permanent, lifetime places for families and friends to share.

I love to be outside, listening to birds, watching bugs, toads, snakes, and other creatures, and watching plants grow from day to day. My husband taught me to raise vegetables and identify plants and I try to share these skills with others. Feeling the beauty of nature has brought healing and inspiration to me in times of need. I now live on the East Coast, but grew up in northern California, and love the differences in the ecology of each area. Every year I find new ways to live simply and keep my footprint small. Thank you for the opportunity to speak out!

I have volunteered time and skills to DeSoto National Memorial a unit of the National Park Service for nine years. The one over riding observation is the pleasure that visitors, local, state and international derive from America's parks. The national parks and the several other efforts to save the best of America from developers, and business interests is in my opinion the nation's best investment. This effort should never be a political decision or a victim of budget cutting.

I ride my bicycle over a thousand miles every year. Most times for pleasure, but also fundraisers for others. The great outdoors brings me, and many like me, GREAT comfort and peace. Born and raised in West Virginia, I'm no stranger to the benefits of outdoor recreation. From family picnics, to sitings of wildlife and immense enjoyment of the natural outdoors, it is extremely important we preserve the integrity of our world, our nation and all of nature. There is no substitute.

We must care for and keep safe the places that provide peace and solitude...the places that provide vital connections to Earth that keep us sane and help us remember that we are all part of TheCircle. Without a clean planet we shall perish miserably.