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.--.....,., .........~'.,..7 ....,rT"'"'.~' . .' ..J....~ , GC;' 788 f{ that it's in their best interests to sec multiple use manage- ment improved. The ultimate size of the wilderness system may well depend on increasing production levels from our other lands. 1 I f l .I I'm reminded here thaI, back in the early 70s follow- ing debates on the proposed Timber Supply Act, an ad hoc committee of conservationists and lumber industry represen- tatives was convened by the American Forestry Association. Its purpose was to identify" areas of agreement." The con- cept is a good one because it puts diverse groups to work, side by side, searching for consensus on matters they do agree upon. And, in addition, by helping build a common effort to get more from our forests - both wood and wilder- ness - it helps reduce the polarization that so often bogs us down in resource mailers. So, as I work for wilderness, I work also for more efficient forest management across the board.' I urge sportsmen, conservationists, and environmentalists to help. Because the only way we can fashion an adequate wilder- ness system is as part of a well-balanced resource manage- ment program for the entire country. The Purity Issue My final comments tonight concern the issue of wilder- ness purity. Time after time, when we discuss wilderness, questions are raised about how developed an area can be and still qualify as wilderness, or what kinds of activities within a wilderness area are consistent with the purposes of the Wilderness Act. I believe, and many citizens agree with me, that the agencies are applying provisions of the Wilderness Act too strictly and thus misconstruing the intent of Congress as to how these areas should be managed. t ., ., !. 1 I II ~ 'I :1 ( 10