An analysis of western ranching politics brought to you by the Public Lands Council
IN THE NEWS
Forest Service: Biden Administration announces intent to amend all 128 forest plans to further restrict thinning of old-growth forests
Biden administration takes step toward protecting old-growth trees (from The Hill)
The administration issued a proposed plan with apparent limitations on cutting down old-growth trees — saying lands can’t be managed with the primary intention of logging such trees for economic reasons. It does say that “ecologically appropriate” timber harvesting will be allowed as long as it meets certain standards. The Agriculture Department also said it was proposing incorporating a “national intent” to maintain and improve old-growth forests into all of the land management plans within the National Forest System.
David Dreher, senior manager for public lands at the National Wildlife Federation, said the establishment of the “national intent” to protect these forests is important because it will inform decisions made by Forest Service officials. “It does guide land managers in an important way when they look at how they want to manage acres on the ground,” Dreher told The Hill. “An affirmative statement that says we need old forests and what I do in these old forests or in mature forests that I want to recruit into old forests contributes to the long-term persistence of those forests,” he said. “We’ve never had that before.”
Wildlife: Gray wolves released in Colorado
Colorado releases first 5 wolves in reintroduction plan approved by voters to chagrin of ranchers (from WTAJ -AP)
The wolves were set free from crates in a Grand County location that state officials kept undisclosed to protect the predators. It marked the start of the most ambitious wolf reintroduction effort in the U.S. in almost three decades and a sharp departure from aggressive efforts by Republican-led states to cull wolf packs. A judge on Friday night had denied a request from the state’s cattle industry for a temporary delay to the release. The group watched as the first two wolves, 1-year-old male and female siblings with gray fur, were set free. The male bolted up the golden grass, running partially sideways to keep an eye on everyone behind, then turning left into the trees. The crowd watched in silence, then some hugged each other and low murmurs started up. When the latch on the second crate flipped, the wolf didn’t budge. Everyone waited as Colorado Gov. Jared Polis peeked into the cage. After roughly 30 seconds, those around the crates stepped back, giving the wolf space. The female slowly rose then bounded up a snowy divot in the dirt road, looking back before disappearing into an aspen grove.
Wolves “have larger-than-life places in human imagination, in the stories we all grew up with and tell each other,” said Polis. “To see them in their natural habitat, and turn around look curiously at us … is really, really a special moment that I will treasure for my entire life.” The other three wolves released were another pair of 1-year-old male and female siblings, as well a 2-year-old male. The wolves were all caught in Oregon on Sunday. When the final crate opened, the 2-year-old male with a black coat immediately darted out, making a sharp right past onlookers and dashing into the trees. He didn’t look back once. When it all ended, a small round of applause broke out. Colorado officials anticipate releasing 30 to 50 wolves within the next five years in hopes the program starts to fill in one of the last remaining major gaps in the western U.S. for the species. Gray wolves historically ranged from northern Canada to the desert southwest.
Grazing Access:
Comment deadline nearing on controversial Rock Springs RMP.
Rock Springs Pushes For More Local Comments On Controversial BLM Plan (from The Cowboy State Daily)
The controversial plan would impact half of the 3.6 million acres of public land the BLM’s Rock Springs office manages. What has generated a storm of complaints is the Biden administration’s preferred Alternative B of the plan, which values conservation above most other considerations. That has many in the region and around Wyoming worried about losing public access to the land as well as using it for economic development. Alternative B would designate much of the land as “areas of crucial environmental concern.” (ACEC), a 460% increase from the existing 286,450 acres currently designated ACEC.
The economic impact of this plan would devastate the county, Taylor Jones said. “The more you read of this document, the more you realize how much it affects. It affects everything,” Taylor Jones said. “It affects everything from recreation to oil and gas development to mining, to tourism, future jobs, access to private lands, agriculture. It will completely wipe out our economy in Sweetwater County.”
Alternative A would leave things as they are. Alternative C is the opposite of B, leaning heavily toward energy development and multiple use. Alternative D would strike a balance between these extremes.
As far as most southwest Wyoming residents are concerned, the BLM should leave things as they are. Even Alternative D, which is meant to be somewhat of a compromise, is not acceptable for many in Rock Springs, who say they’re afraid it would set a precedent that would eventually lead to Alternative B.
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