No. 316, August 28, 2002
********************************** CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Biodiversity Activist August 28, 2002 www.biologicaldiversity.org
**********************************
REGIONAL DIRECTOR BLASTS SANTA FE NATIONAL FOREST FOR GRAZING ABUSE
GILA NATIONAL FOREST ALLOTMENT SAVED FROM LIVESTOCK
TONTO NATIONAL FOREST REMOVES COWS AFTER CENTER COMPLAINT
**********************************
REGIONAL DIRECTOR BLASTS SANTA FE NATIONAL FOREST FOR GRAZING ABUSE
The abuse of our public lands by livestock grazing reached such drastic levels during the recent drought that regional director of the range program David Stewart wrote a scorching letter saying that the range staff of the Santa Fe forest: "1) cannot read, 2) are simply defiant of basic Regional Forester direction, 3) are afraid, 4) just don't care, or, 5) a combination of all of the above."
After a visit to the forest Stewart found "there has been little if no spring forage growth and cattle have currently consumed most of the previous years residual growth." Elsewhere he notes that "once again, cattle are being allowed to simply pulverize the resource." Stewart also revealed Endangered Species Act violations, writing that "large numbers of cattle are grazing a pasture which is habitat for Rio Grande cutthroat trout, where virtually no forage exists, potentially undoing many years of habitat improvement."
Despite Stewart's forthright efforts to correct this case of blatant abuse, the disproportionate political power of the ranchers delayed action. In mid July, acting Santa Fe Forest Supervisor Gilbert Zepeda suspended for one week the removal orders previously issued in response to Stewart's direction. However, the removal orders have since gone into effect.
A copy of the letter is online at: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/Programs/grazing/StewartLetter.html
**********************************
GILA NATIONAL FOREST ALLOTMENT SAVED FROM LIVESTOCK
In response to a threat of legal action by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Gila National Forest abandoned plans to reopen the Cold Springs allotment in the Mimbres Valley to grazing by 25 horses belonging to an Outfitter Guide operation. The allotment was cancelled in 1996 after serious abuse by a former permittee. Reopening the Cold Springs allotment would have violated several resource protections laws.
The Gila Forest had been looking for a place to send the horses after a long history of permit violations in the Gila Wilderness. In one case escaped horses caused a vehicle accident that seriously injured Forest Service personnel. As usual, interference by a New Mexico politician and ally of the permittee frightened the Forest Service out of taking the obvious step of simply cancelling the grazing permit. Instead, the Gila National Forest moved the horses to the Indian Creek allotment, which is already permitted to over 50 cattle but was taken out of use in late 2000 for lack of water.
**********************************
TONTO NATIONAL FOREST REMOVES COWS AFTER CENTER COMPLAINT
The Tonto National Forest has a strong drought policy compared with other forests in the southwest region. However, the policy has not been enforced evenly. Despite a continuing lack of forage growth, the Cave Creek district of the Tonto National Forest was still running cows at over 50 percent of normal levels, while other districts like Payson, Mesa and Tonto Basin had removed virtually all livestock from the Forest. The Red Creek allotment was being stocked at 84 percent of normal levels.
The Center complained to the Forest Supervisor about the constant trespass by cows into critical habitat for native fish in the lower Verde River and multiple instances of cattle trashing riparian areas on the Forest, a problem that is particularly acute during droughts, due to the lack of forage elsewhere. In response, Tonto forest officials said that cows had been ordered off the Sears Club/Chalk Mtn, Red Creek and Blackjack allotments, while a proposed stock tank clean-out that would involve running a bulldozer into the Mazatzal Wilderness was suspended.
For more information on the Center's grazing program: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/programs/grazing/index.html --------------------------------------------------
Visit the web address below and tell your friends about this important issue!
http://actionnetwork.org/join-forward.html?domain=BIODIVERSITY&r=41111111mcJU
If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for Center for Biological Diversity - Biodiversity Activist at:
http://actionnetwork.org/BIODIVERSITY/join.html?r=41111111mcJUE
--------------------------------------------------
This message was sent to [email]. To modify your email communication preferences or update your personal profile, visit your subscription management page at:
http://actionnetwork.org/BIODIVERSITY/smp.tcl?nkey=nzz78xieb&
To stop ALL email from Center for Biological Diversity - Biodiversity Activist, reply via email with "remove or unsubscribe" in the subject line, or use the following link:
http://actionnetwork.org/BIODIVERSITY/remove-domain-direct.tcl?ctx=center&nkey=nzz78xieb&
Go back
|