This is the second policy--#2 in the trilogy.

DRAFT POLICY II

Our nation's federal public lands should be managed in a manner that
restores and perpetuates healthy functioning natural ecosystems of native
plants and animals and clean water.  Much of our public lands are
unsuitable or inappropriate for domestic livestock grazing, including the
National Park System, the National Wildlife Refuge System, many endangered
species habitats, and fragile desert ecosystems. Public lands grazing
should not be allowed unless the livestock operator demonstrates that it
will not adversely impact native plant and animal populations and it will
not lead to soil loss or water quality degradation.  Wherever livestock
grazing on public lands is having a  significant adverse environmental
impact it should be terminated.


 GUIDELINES

 Grazing should be eliminated within the following places:

 * National Park System Units and National Wildlife Refuges (Except in park
units set aside to preserve a historic working farm or ranch and its
culture.)
 * Ecosystems that evolved without native ungulates such as bison or elk.
 * Lands where the ability of the land to function as a healthy watershed
and sustain native vegetation is declining.
 . Lands where livestock grazing conflicts with maintaining or restoring
healthy native wildlife populations.
 * Areas where livestock grazing conflicts with recovery of threatened or
endangered species.
 . Areas where livestock grazing is adversely impacting native plant and
animal populations, causing soil loss, or water quality degradation.

 Fencing, water development, vegetation manipulation and other so-called
"range improvements" for livestock should only be allowed if the livestock
operator demonstrates that they will adversely impact native species.
Chaining, planting exotic species, fences that block wildlife corridors,
drying up streams for water developments should be prohibited.

 Public land managers should work to replace non-native plant species with
native plant  communities.  Letting natural fires burn, or prescribed
burning, is the preferred method for restoring and renewing natural
ecosystems.

 Grazing fees should be set at a fair market value.  When considering the
suitability of grazing, the full cost of managing the operation, including
any activities necessary to protect the resource from the grazing should be
considered--including restoration of stream banks and other environmental
damage associated with grazing.

 Streams, wetlands and riparian areas are valuable for habitat, native
plant communities, and clean water, and are also particularly vulnerable to
damage by livestock grazing. Livestock grazing should not be allowed to
degrade these areas, and  where it does it should be terminated.

 The Sierra Club will support efforts to provide economic and transition
assistance to ranchers effected by the elimination of public land grazing
operations.

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