Since Kim Trotter, Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) US Program Director, failed to get the Y2Y agenda for wildlife overpasses implemented in Island Park, the Y2Y front group, Island Park Safe Wildlife Passage Initiative (IPSWPI), has now morphed into the Henrys Fork Wildlife Alliance (HFWA). Perhaps this was done for a bogus Idaho "connection" since the group is an affiliate of the Idaho Wildlife Federation (IWF), with hope there would be no more suspicions of "outsiders" such as Y2Y. But there is really no change here. The IPSWPI players and Y2Y loyalists, Jean Bjerke, Tim Reynolds, Mary Van Fleet, and Bonnie Altshuld, all serve on the HFWA organizing committee.
IWF is an affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), even though they don't list that relationship on their website. While many have been duped into believing the IWF is a supporter of access, ensuring hunting and fishing opportunities, they support government such as Idaho Fish & Game. keeping land in government hands, and involving themselves in "smart land management". Along with the federal government and other NGOs, NWF is also a partner with the Network for Landscape Conservation. Just this year alone, NWF received two million dollars from the Hewlett Foundation "to protect critical wildlife habitat across the American West" and defend public land programs. How much of that will trickle down to the IWF? In addition to the NWF, other IWF affiliations include larger non-governmental organizations (NGO). The board President, Kahle Becker, is an attorney who worked for the state of Idaho, and served on the Idaho Conservation League board; Treasurer Bryan Moore served on the Safari Club International board; Molly Lipps is a member of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers; and Greg McReynolds is affiliated with Trout Unlimited. Like these NGOs being partners with Y2Y, IWF is also a partner. Y2Y partners all have the same objectives, control over land use. IWF also supported the Y2Y agenda for wildlife overpasses. IWF is based in Boise. Brian Brooks is the executive director of IWF and will most likely be the front voice for HFWA. Being in Boise, Mr. Brooks is close to the state legislature and has actively worked on legislative matters, as seen on the IWF website. There is little doubt that he will be lobbying for wildlife overpasses in Island Park and pushing for wildlife corridor legislation, regardless of what Island Park residents want. He also advocated for designation of a wilderness area in Scotchman Peaks in 2016. Mr. Brooks is still fuming over the recent trespassing law that protects private property rights. Over the next year it will be imperative that citizens actively engage with legislators in opposition to Mr. Brooks work. Another threatening aspect of IWF is the amount of funding behind their work. In 2018 IWF recieved $70,000 from the Wilburforce Foundation (pg 10) which also funds Y2Y and some of the previously mentioned NGOs. According to their 2015 tax form, IWF spent $50,000 for protection in the Boulder-White Clouds. IWF is about conservation just as is Y2Y, not access or use, and the goal is dictating how land is used. So now Y2Y has two front groups instead of one, IWF and HFWA. This aligns with the overall NGO strategy to integrate themselves more at a local level, however several of these individuals only come to the area part time and live in other states. That is the scam, make themselves look like local Idahoans when in reality they are only reinventing themselves with a new name. Nothing has changed except more funding to do more damage. There is still no respect for jurisdictional boundaries or what the true citizens of the area want for their community. HFWA somehow thinks the citizens need to be educated on wildlife but the truth is they will be promoting Y2Y objectives under new, and more deceiving, language. The old saying, "You can put lipstick on a pig but it is still a pig" fits this scenario pretty well. The explanation of that saying is "To make some superficial or cosmetic change to something so that it seems more attractive, appealing, or successful than it really is." That is what is happening here, the same NGO, the same people, and the same goals. Don't let the new language or words fool you.
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Making Sense of It All
This blog will help you make sense out of all the information on the website, how it affects IP, our history, and how efforts continue to put IP into various forms of conservation status. Archives
May 2023
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