SUSTAINABLE & ACHIEVABLE

 The  magnetic draw of the ruggedly beautiful Valles Caldera has historically  attracted nature lovers; most of whom are more interested in the  picturesque landscape than the sight of yet another $13 million luxury hotel.  These discerning individuals are thrilled by the likelihood that  they will encounter native wildlife, and hopeful that the serenity of  such a place will result in a connection to the earth that will be  instilled in their children.  The very idea that "glamping" might be  offered on the VC is offensive to the tough, self-motivated character of  the average visitor.  It is certainly far-removed from the character of  the land itself; and with the growing intensity of winds in the area,  the proposed tents could actually be a danger, almost certainly a waste  of money.  Perhaps for safety's sake alone, the trust should invest in  locally-made teepees; which are easily mobile and would allow the land  to recover quickly from disturbances.  Three ideas that better maintain  the integrity, character and spirit of the Valles Caldera: 

Benefits to the VCNP, surrounding communities & the general public:
• worst-first, single-tree selection culls weak and dead trees,  mimicking nature’s technique of clearing the forest with storms, wind,  fire, etc.
• forest is allowed to retain a naturally diverse selection of tree  species in its inventory; enhanced ecosystem health & resiliency  results
• water quality protected from non-point sources of pollution inevitably resulting from conventional forestry
• optimizing raw forest products toward production of highly marketable  essential oils, botanicals, & nutraceuticals assists collaborators  in establishing sound economic foundation
• would allow for the production of a lucrative line of environmental cleaning products featuring various oils, such as pine
• generates public awareness of community/forest interdependence, promotes mutually beneficial relationships between the two
• general consensus of recent public opinion has reflected willingness to pay to watch woodsmen at work
• ultimate program viability would be achieved by the establishment of  an International Training Facility; much interest has been proffered by  countries such as China, Russia, New Zealand, Scotland and others
• community members would be expertly trained at directional tree  felling, draft horse logging, grading, negotiating, marketing/sales,  record keeping
• communities would cultivate sustainable legacies that produce capital  by rewarding forest stewardship skills & protection of the  environment
• locally grown hay and grain are fuel for this program, low start-up  costs enable landowners to participate in "eco-industry" without  incurring high debt
• collaboration with a spray nutraceutical company (Vitamist) would result in economic & health benefits 
Social Benefits:
• allows the rescue of perfectly healthy horses otherwise destined for slaughter
• would encourage survival of endangered Suffolk Punch draft breed  , on-site celebrity, or other event? Be sure to announce it so everybody knows and gets excited about it.

 • provides for acquisition, gentling & employment of wild horses caught in BLM's wild horse roundup
• preserve could provide valuable therapy animals for clinically proven  programs targeting needs of citizens with Down's syndrome, autism,  Cerebral Palsy, etc.
• notably beneficial to soldiers returning from war with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as well as Traumatic Brain Injury
• community members employed to train & gentle horses
Benefits to the VCNP:
• as EFL gains in popularity, horses could be sold for a profit to one of many programs throughout the country
• donations to VCNP are far more likely to come from a program such as  this, rather than the luxury equestrian camps proposed by Entrix 

 • a zipline would offer a new perspective and experience within the VC's education & conservation message
• creates far less of an environmental impact than conventional forms of tourism; such as off-road atv's & 4-wheel-drives
• relatively low start-up cost and swift installation would likely  provide the preserve with a daily windfall of several thousand dollars
• in the majority of zip-lined recreational areas, the number of visitors has increased, as has revenue 
• with few ziplines in the U.S., and very few in New Mexico, there is little competition
• provides thrill-seekers the exhilarating opportunity to zip through the treetop canopy with invigorating momentum
• employment for local population 

  Economic & Health Benefits of Grass Fed Bison       
 1.  Demand Exceeds Supply for Both Meat & Breeding Stock
       a.  Allows for Optimal Economic Benefit
  2.  Lower in Fat & Cholesterol than Chicken
  3.  Nutrient Dense, Contains as Many Omega-3s Per Serving as Salmon
       a.  Three to Six Times the Amount of Omega-3s as Grain-Fed Animals
  4.  Contains the Highest Known Levels of CLA, a Natural Fat-Blocker & Anti-Carcinogen
       a.  CLA is Shown to Have the Potential to Reduce the Risk of Cancer, Obesity, Diabetes, & a Number of Immune Disorders                         
  5.  High Concentrations of Selenium, a Natural Trace Element that Acts as a Mood Elevator
       a.  As Much as Four Times More Selenium than Grain-Fed Bison  

  6.  Higher in Protein than Beef & Salmon
       a.  Contains Four Times the Amount of Vitamin E Found in Grain-Fed Beef
  7.  Fits the Dietary Recommendations of the American Heart & American Diabetes Foundations