tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448197338498920091.post6195948545674275880..comments2023-11-02T07:02:11.098-06:00Comments on New Mexico Federal Lands Council: Frank DuBoishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078935296275462544noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1448197338498920091.post-82097946789651459352008-08-07T01:08:00.000-06:002008-08-07T01:08:00.000-06:00I think the plan has the potential to help all fac...I think the plan has the potential to help all factions. But, contrary to what many assume, cattle are not always or necessarily a negative force!<BR/><BR/>Studies reveal that cattle, like the buffalo, as ruminants, can assist in keeping the environment healthy!<BR/><BR/>As to land as resource that could be BETTER utilized, especially on this HUNGRY PLANET, is the issue of rangeland. More than 1.1 billion acres are listed as grazing land, roughly one half of the entire area of the U.S. Out of that 787 million acres are considered rangelands (and 82% of these rangelands are located in the 17 western states); 131 million acres are pasturelands; 157 million are grazed forest lands and 64 millions acres are croplands. More than 85% of all grazing lands are not suited for crop production, according to the USDA. <BR/><BR/>Grazing rangelands can definitely be an environmentally SOUND management tool; it converts dry matter, that could be called FIRE HAZARDS, into a food source; ruminants can convert the roughage easily into muscle/meat. Too bad MORE cows haven't had access to some of the western hills and ranges that are now burning!!??<BR/><BR/>According to one Oregon range manager, "Without controlled grazing, the forage on public lands will become wolfy (Not succulent), [and] big game will move to private lands." Moreover, grazing protects the environment by "building soils, protecting water and riparian areas, and enhancing habitat." <BR/><BR/>Indeed, in parts of Canada, ranchers and farmers are PAID to take cattle, sheep, and goats into the mountains to help protect from major wildfires.<BR/><BR/>Wouldn’t that be a great PROTECTION tool for OUR mountain and hill regions?????<BR/><BR/>As to the relationship of cattle to wildlife?<BR/>More than 75% of ALL WILDLIFE IN the continental U.S. (excluding Alaska) is supported by PRIVATE, NOT PUBLIC land. Private land, eg: ranches and farmlands, provide habitat, water, wetlands, and food for big game and waterfowl. In the eastern U.S., that figure increases considerably; almost all wildlife is dependent on private lands. Most of the spawning and rearing habitat for migrating fish occur on PRIVATE ranch lands.<BR/><BR/>From 1960 – 1990, it was estimated by BLM that public lands (rangelands) had seen a marked improvement in habitat and herd restoration: elk populations had increased by nearly 800%, big horn sheep by 435%; antelope, by 112%, moose by 500%; and deer by 33%.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com