Honorable Mention
“Wyoming is known for its beautiful landscapes and wildlife, and by protecting these things, we are protecting our state.”
2030 Dreams for Wyoming
Rachel Stephens
Age 16
Laramie, Wyoming
Essay
People underestimate how important animals are to the development of humans. They can teach us compassion, understanding, and much more. Understanding that we are not above animals but living alongside them is to keep Earth’s ecosystems in their perfect balance. Wildlife has always been an extremely important part of my life. I have always loved learning about the creatures we share this planet with. Anything I could get my hands on, from documentaries to books to educational essays, or simply anything that could expand my knowledge. The best way to understand things, though, is by seeing. By witnessing the natural habits of animals, you can gain a better understanding of them. This has led me to become extremely grateful to be able to live in Wyoming. Driving to school I see antelope grazing on a golf course, at sunset a family of deer wander into my neighborhood, and when we go on road trips, I get to see bison up close. These close and personal experiences with animals are extremely important to helping us understand why wildlife matters so much. Within this essay, I will be showing how the protection of wildlife and land in Wyoming matters. With a huge fear of my future children and grandchildren not having the opportunity to experience wildlife the way I have been able to, my biggest wishes for Wyoming coming true would put that fear to rest. These wishes include protection of natural wildlife, leaving animal habitats untouched unless necessary, and ensuring responsible acquisition of natural resources.
Wyoming has a unique amount of vast, nearly untouched landscapes, all over the state. These landscapes are vital to the ecosystems of wildlife throughout the state, and it is necessary to ensure their protection. These places don’t just support vital ecosystems, though, they also provide vast historical and cultural importance. One example of a place that has these things is the Red Desert in southern Wyoming. The Red Desert is one of the last high-desert ecosystems in North America and is home to both the largest migratory herd of pronghorns in the lower 48 states and one of the world’s largest herds of elk. This amazing part of our state also holds impeccable historical significance, with rock art from Native Americans dating 11,000 years found across the region. It’s also a source of many natural resources, such as oil, natural gas, coal, coalbed methane, and minerals such as uranium. This area of southern Wyoming is mostly unprotected by any legal means and is thereby vulnerable. The lack of legal protection over the basin leaves room for natural resources exploration and development, which could damage the natural ecosystems of the area. While energy sources are important to us, protecting the vast wildlife and unique species within our state is just as necessary.
The Red Desert is home to over 350 species and plant species that have adapted to survive in its uniquely harsh conditions. These species range from small shrimp in little springs to mountain lions and elk. This special basin in central Wyoming is also home to Wyoming’s only population of one of the world’s endangered species, the black footed ferret[EO1] . With the protection of natural wildlife, this includes endangered species such as the black footed ferret. The black footed ferret may seem like an insignificant or unnecessary animal when they are actually an essential part of many natural ecosystems. In Wyoming, the black footed ferret helps to manage prairie dog populations and is an essential natural source of food for owls, coyotes, and badgers. Animals like this are vital to maintaining the populations of other species, meaning if we lose one, we are at higher risk of losing other species. Wyoming is known for its beautiful landscapes and wildlife, and by protecting these things, we are protecting our state.
Animals other than the ones found in the Red Desert also need to be protected just as passionately. As a state, we are commonly known for our beloved state animal, the bison. Bison, after going from a dominant land mammal in North America to nearly extinct due to mass over poaching in the 1800s, are still defined as one of the most resilient species on earth. After surviving the Ice Age, bison had a population of between 30 and 60 million roaming the plains until human interference nearly wiped them out. Bison are massively important to Wyoming’s natural ecosystems, just as any other species native to the state. Bison spread native seeds and aerate grasslands as they graze across the plains, helping continue the cycle of vast ecological diversity within our state. Since their near extinction, many Native American groups have been working to increase bison populations all over America. This includes Wyoming, with the largest continual herd of bison under protection in Yellowstone National Park. Though bison populations are still only just over 500,000, the work to grow their population is still at work. Yet, this hard work will be for nothing if the areas in Wyoming are left unprotected and destroyed.
The interest in oil and gas developments all over the world also includes Wyoming. While our state has been known as an amazing source of coal for energy, it is also a hot spot for other natural resources. The other resources found in Wyoming include oil, natural gas, coal bed methane, and minerals such as uranium. The Red Desert is at risk yet again because of its abundant amount of these natural resources. Yet, the acquiring of these resources would likely affect the things that are most native to the area. The removal of these resources could not only destroy the vast and unique natural ecosystems of the area, but also the history that encapsulates the area. In avoiding this, we can also further develop new, more climate friendly, forms of acquiring energy. Wyoming has major potential when it comes to geothermal energy. The vast hot springs across Wyoming are currently very beneficial to the tourism industry in the state. Yet, these same hot springs could be used to also provide a new source of energy for the state. Hot springs being used for energy and heating, rather than coal or petroleum, would utilize Wyoming’s natural resources without damaging its other ecosystems if done responsibly. The important history of Wyoming started long before it became the first state to allow women the right to vote. The geological history of the Red Desert is also extremely valuable.
Geologically, we are able to see the remnants of the past through carved out badlands, sandstone towers, deep canyons, and sand dunes. Throughout Wyoming there are also two large ancient seas, leaving fossilized remains of ancient species in the sedimentary rock for us to find millions of years after the animals lived. The fossils found in areas all over Wyoming have been extremely valuable to our understanding of our past, and the creatures that lived so long ago. Personally, I recently had the privilege of recovering fossils from a fossil lake near Kemmerer, Wyoming. This ancient lake had been home to various species of fish and other sea creatures, some of which I was able to recover which now sit in my room. These fossils are pieces of the past I get to see every day, and I would never have been able to do that if the vast fossil lakes had been destroyed for the retrieval of natural resources. This is why it is important to carefully regulate how our state’s resources are acquired.
Though all these important parts of Wyoming need protection, that does not exclusively stop any form of economic growth or activity in our state. While important ecosystems and areas all over the state should be legally protected, there are also places where natural resources should be utilized. Wyoming produces an immense amount of energy through coal production and fuel through petroleum production. Both these resources are vital to Wyoming’s infrastructure, and though they are not the most environmentally kind forms of energy, they are still necessary. This means we must find a balance between the areas that should be left untouched and conserved, and ones where we can make use of the abundant natural resources.
Areas such as the Powder River Basin provide much of the nation’s coal. Sixteen mines across the Powder River Basin provide over 40 percent of the United States coal. This area is vital to our coal production as a state, but also has very important natural wildlife. The projects within this area have brought thousands more roads, pipelines, electrical lines, and wells all across the basin. While these things may be necessary to complete the extraction of fossil fuels, they can affect the natural ecosystems of the area. There are organizations attempting to ensure that harnessing of these resources is done safely and efficiently, as best they can. This included the National Wildlife Federation holding a summit to unite ranchers, conservationists, and officials from multiple Native American tribes in finding ways to promote responsible energy development. Yet, coal demand is dropping dramatically in the United States, due to less expensive natural gas, wind and solar energy, and increased energy efficiency. So, the National Wildlife Federation continues to work with ranchers, conservationists, and Native tribes to protect the sacred land within the Powder River Basin, and the animals that inhabit it.
While the use of fossil fuels has helped to grow Wyoming’s economy for an extremely long time, now wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower have become more common. While Wyoming has counted on the sale and use of fossil fuels very heavily, this leaves the state at risk as things change. This is why it is important to start preparing our state to be more accessible to other types of energy. The fossil fuels we have used so consistently are not perfect. From loss of animal diversity and habitats, to abandonment of wells and oil spills, the slow transition from fossil fuels is becoming clearer as time goes on. A federal economic stimulus program that aims to plug over 500,000 abandoned wells across the country could provide up to 120,000 jobs to former oil and gas workers. This is a smart way to help stop abandoned wells from causing oil spills and from polluting local communities. The key part in all of this is finding a balance between all of these issues.
Previously, public lands in Wyoming were leased for less than two dollars per acre, which allowed large oil companies to buy extensive amounts of land in Wyoming. Most of this land only has low fossil fuel probability, but is still under the control of large oil companies. Meaning, this land stays tied up in leases that threaten and prevent the public lands from being used for conservation or recreation efforts. In addition to this, oil and gas companies are not required to maintain clean-up for things like abandoned wells, due to outdated federal bonding rates. If we can work to ensure that oil companies within Wyoming must be responsible for themselves and their own mistakes. Given that America has a political system that allows states to make their own choices based on the needs of the citizens, this should be utilized to keep those mining fossil fuels from exploiting our state.
All of these things, from maintaining Wyoming's landscapes and wildlife, to ensuring the safety of communities, and sacred lands, are vital pieces of our state. We are known for being the equality state, and that equality should be evenly distributed. The uniquely untouched wildlife in Wyoming is something that must be protected, as well as the rest of the history within the state. The close encounters I and many others have had the privilege to experience all over Wyoming are ones I would wish for anyone to be able to take part in. While I may only be sixteen, and I can safely say I don’t know as much as a well educated scholar, I know Wyoming. I know that what drew my family to this state is the uniquely untouched lands, wildlife, people, and sense of individuality from other states. Before moving to Wyoming, I hadn’t necessarily felt like I truly understood the places I was living. Yet, as soon as I moved here, there was a sense of community and love for the state from everyone, that felt comforting. I’ve seen people defend this state so intensely, because they genuinely care. I truly do care about what this state will be when I complete college, start a family, start working to conserve wildlife, and hope the changes brought up in this essay can see that through and my wishes for Wyoming come true.
References
Bleizeffer, D. (2019, August). Field Notes. Wyoming Outdoor Council. https://wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org/2019/08/21/southwest-wyoming-a-working-landscape-worth-protecting/
Defenders of Wildlife. (n.d.). Bison. Defenders. https://defenders.org/wildlife/bison
The National Wildlife Federation. (n.d.). Coal in the Powder River Basin. National Wildlife
Federation. https://www.nwf.org/Our-Work/Environmental-Threats/Climate-Change/Fossil-Fuels/Coal/Powder-River-Basin
The National Wildlife Federation. (n.d.). The Red Desert. The National Wildlife Federation. https://www.nwf.org/Home/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Wild-Places/Red-Desert
The Nature Conservancy. (n.d.). Red Desert. The Nature Conservancy. https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/red-desert/
U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2019, August 26). Sixteen mines in the Powder River Basin produce 43% of U.S. coal. U.S. Energy Information Administration. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=41053
U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2021, March 18). Wyoming State Profile and Energy Estimates. U.S. Energy Information Administration. https://www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=WY
Wilbert, C. (2021, February 8). It's time for Wyoming to Move to a Clean Prosperous Future. Sierra Club. https://www.sierraclub.org/articles/2021/02/it-s-time-for-wyoming-move-clean-prosperous-future
World Wildlife Fund. (n.d.). Black-footed Ferret. World Wildlife Fund. https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/black-footed-ferret
World Wildlife Fund. (n.d.). Plains Bison. World Wildlife Fund. https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/plains-bison
Wyoming State Geological Survey. (n.d.). Geothermal Resources. Wyoming State Geological Survey. https://www.wsgs.wyo.gov/energy/geothermal.aspx