As a conservationist who knows the White Peak area intimately, I wholeheartedly support the White Peak land transfer. Those who love the wild lands of Northern New Mexico should back this deal, which is good for the land, wildlife, the state, and our children and grandchildren.

Newly consolidated state trust lands have abundant springs, lakes, meadows and forests. They have been given the highest possible elk habitat ratings from the State Game and Fish Department. I know the areas that are being traded very well, as I have hunted that back country for the past 15 years. The newly proposed quality game unit created in the trade is far and away superior for hunters to the current patchwork of private and public lands.

The trade also opens up a new recreational area for campers, hikers and mountain bikers, who will be assured permanent, legal access to land that rivals the majesty of Valle Vidal.

As a member of both New Mexico Wildlife Federation and WildEarth Guardians, I respectfully disagree with those who have opposed this deal. They framed the issues politically, around Democratic populism in support of victimized hunters verses a Republican land commissioner who is acting entirely on behalf of rich land owners. The result of this political posturing is that the general public has been sidetracked from getting the facts.

With neighboring ranches, the area proposed by State Land Commissioner Lyons could, with support of a united conservation community, create a million continuous acres of wild lands. Before the trade, these lands, without continuity and legal access, would have been almost impossible to protect from oil and gas drilling.

David Stanley, the first rancher in this land trade, runs an organic cattle operation with another rancher who sells beef at the Santa Fe Farmers Market. If the current trade is revoked, Stanley will bail on his two-year dream to manage his land for wildlife conservation and retreats. He will sell his ranch. In five years, the entire White Peak area might be drilled and destroyed, like much of the Turner Ranch.

I have strongly opposed Commissioner Lyons' liberal drilling policies, particularly in Mora. But in this case, I applaud his commitment to not leasing the White Peak area to oil and gas exploration. As an outgoing land commissioner passionate about elk hunting, Lyons has courageously risked combat against those with powerful interests who oppose this trade. His proposal also increases the value of the state property many times over for the beneficiaries: That's us.

The reason more hunters and conservationists have not supported this trade is that the White Peak area has been the scene of a low-grade range war for the past 50 years. Historical structures have been burned to the ground and people's lives have been threatened. Even now, signs demarking private and public land are systematically removed and fences are cut. Numerous previous state land commissioners have tried to resolve this public and private checker-board of land, without success.

I'm deeply sympathetic to the hunters who oppose this deal, and I admire the intensity of their convictions. As a lifetime member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, I feel the same way about my hunting places, which is why I have chosen to take this stand.

At this point we must focus on protecting our wild lands for the future. Given the coal-methane reserves under the areas of dispute, our ability to come together, as a community, will be the greatest test for the land we all love. Go to the State Land Office Web site and find out the facts.

Santa Fean Marc Choyt is president of Reflective Images and an activist in the fair trade movement.