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Livestock Grazing and the Link between Public & Private Lands
In the Gunnison River Valley of Colorado
Dave Bradford - United States Forest Service
Excerpt from Program:
"Debates over grazing and the environmental effects of grazing continue to be waged. At the same time housing and other urban development is removing important valley agricultural farm and range lands in Colorado and most other western states. This development pressure and demand for land is reducing open space in the mountain valleys, increasing pressure on all remaining undeveloped lands to provide sufficient habitat for native plant and animal species, and is hampering ranchers from adding additional property to their land base. The emphasis of local ranches that hold public land grazing permits has changed over-time from a 'locally dependent livestock industry' to important sources of open space and habitat to maintain biological diversity in the rapidly developing mountain West. The ranches in the North Fork Valley provide an excellent example of this relationship. Specifically, the maintenance of these important valley ranches is highly dependent on grazing permits on the adjacent National Forest. Without the Forest permits, it would likely result in the private ranches being broken into smaller land units, thus reducing open space in the valley, and the land likely being used more intensively and probably being maintained in a reduced condition. This relationship may be difficult to accept when viewed through a traditional paradigm that grazing results in misused and abused lands. However, the dramatic improvement in grazing management in the North Fork Valley and the adjacent Uncompahgre and Gunnison Basins alters that paradigm. Ranches and grazing allotments that are well managed provide the best form of land management possible in the western United States. These well-managed ranches and National Forest rangelands are providing important sources of clean water, open space, habitat for numerous plant and animal species resulting in greater biological diversity, and contributing to the economic and social structure of the western mountain valleys."
Presentation Outline:
Dave Bradford - United States Forest Service
Excerpt from Program:
"Debates over grazing and the environmental effects of grazing continue to be waged. At the same time housing and other urban development is removing important valley agricultural farm and range lands in Colorado and most other western states. This development pressure and demand for land is reducing open space in the mountain valleys, increasing pressure on all remaining undeveloped lands to provide sufficient habitat for native plant and animal species, and is hampering ranchers from adding additional property to their land base. The emphasis of local ranches that hold public land grazing permits has changed over-time from a 'locally dependent livestock industry' to important sources of open space and habitat to maintain biological diversity in the rapidly developing mountain West. The ranches in the North Fork Valley provide an excellent example of this relationship. Specifically, the maintenance of these important valley ranches is highly dependent on grazing permits on the adjacent National Forest. Without the Forest permits, it would likely result in the private ranches being broken into smaller land units, thus reducing open space in the valley, and the land likely being used more intensively and probably being maintained in a reduced condition. This relationship may be difficult to accept when viewed through a traditional paradigm that grazing results in misused and abused lands. However, the dramatic improvement in grazing management in the North Fork Valley and the adjacent Uncompahgre and Gunnison Basins alters that paradigm. Ranches and grazing allotments that are well managed provide the best form of land management possible in the western United States. These well-managed ranches and National Forest rangelands are providing important sources of clean water, open space, habitat for numerous plant and animal species resulting in greater biological diversity, and contributing to the economic and social structure of the western mountain valleys."
Presentation Outline:
- Objectives for the National Forest Range Program, FSM 2202 (5)
- Is There a Relationship Between Ranching Operations That Graze on National Forests and Public Lands?
- Base Property
- Ecological Factors
- Economic Factors
- Social Factors
- Delta County Land Ownership - 2004
- Calls for the Elimination of Grazing on Public Lands Are Increasing and Intensifying
- What Would be the Impacts of Eliminating Forest Service Grazing Permits for the North Fork Ranches?
- Is the Loss of Agricultural Land and Open Space a Concern?
- Does the Conversion of Rangelands and Farmlands Affect Native Ecosystems?
- Colorado is Using a Variety of Approaches to Preserve Open Space
- Yet Open Space Programs and Conservation Easements have Limitations
- Is This a Rationalization for the Mismanagement, Misuse or Abuse of Public Rangelands?
- Public Land Grazing Can Occur if Properly Managed
- Is There a Reason to Continue Grazing on National Forests and Other Public Lands?
