"If the enviornmental groups had had there way, I guarantee you that in a few more years, they would start asking for more land and water to be protected."

Do you ever look at it the other way and think, if we give these loggers, miners, etc. this bit of land they will start asking for more land and water to use for their own personal profit to the exclusion of everyone else? That seems to be the way it has worked in the past.

If environmental groups get some land and water proteced today and move to protect more in the future, land that EVERYONE can use, rather than a few rich and well connected companies, more power to them.