Forwarded from the Sierra Club Broadcast Network by Jane Clark at
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Sierra Club's Grazing Task Force is developing a network of people to
work on public lands grazing issues and provide input on the Club's
Grazing Policy. If you have an interest in grazing issues, are now
working in this area, or want a source of information or can be a
source of information, please take a few minutes and fill out the
questionnaire below. Domestic livestock use of large areas of public
lands in the United States is a serious environmental, economic and
social concern. Sierra Club needs to have as many members as possible
involved in this issue so the Club's responses to these concerns
reflects the memberships interests.

This questionnaire and the following 1992 Grazing Policy can be sent to
any Sierra Club member you know that might be interested. A response by
September 15, 1999, would be appreciated.

1. Your Sierra Club membership no:

2. Name:

3: Address:

4: E-Mail address:

5. Chapter Name:

6. Have you worked with ranchers and/or federal land managers on grazing
issues:

7. Have you worked on federal grazing legislation:

8. Have you worked at the allotment level:
Where:

9. Do you feel the present Sierra Club Grazing Policy is adequate:

10. If not, what changes in the present policy would you suggest:

11. Would you be willing to work on federal grazing legislation:

Please reply to:

     Bruce Sundquist
     210 College Park Dr
     Monroeville, PA 15146-1532
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     E-mail response is preferred
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The following policy on grazing on the public lands has been adopted by
the Sierra Club Board of Directors September 12, 1992:

Grazing On The Public Lands

The goal of the management of grazing on the public lands is to restore
and maintain fully functioning natural ecosystems, with their full
complements of native species.

Federal and provincial resource agency management emphasis shall be on the
restoration of native biodiversity and rehabilitation of all public lands,
especially riparian areas, damaged by grazing. Such restoration shall be
accomplished through the development and implementation, with full public
participation, of land-use plans and integrated management plans that are
based on ecological units, such as watersheds, rather than on grazing
allotments, and that are fully monitored for compliance and effectiveness.

To minimize environmental costs, livestock grazing shall be permitted
only on public lands in satisfactory condition, except under agency
approved rehabilitation plans. The criteria for satisfactory condition
include lands in good and excellent condition with static or upward
trends, with healthy riparian areas and wildlife habitat, and with
grazing practices in compliance with land-use plan objectives, standards
and guidelines, and with permit requirements.

To minimize economic costs as well as environmental costs, livestock
grazing must be permitted at no less than fair market value established
on a regional basis.

Livestock grazing is not an appropriate use for every acre of public
lands. Livestock use shall be prohibited on national wildlife refuges and
national parks unless it is currently allowed, if necessary for achieving
refuge or park purposes, and is not causing environmental damage. Other
lands that should be withdrawn from livestock grazing include critical
habitats for threatened or endangered species, lands that are actively
desertifying or on which grazing is not ecologically sustainable,
sensitive cultural resource areas, and lands on which monitoring by
public land agencies is inadequate to establish conditions and to
evaluate whether grazing practices are in compliance with planning
objectives and permit requirements. On those geographically limited areas
where wild horses are causing environmental problems, their impacts shall
be controlled.

The Sierra Club reaffirms its policy that public range should be retained
under public ownership. Further, the Sierra Club urges the public
acquisition of private lands by the federal government that are critical
to carrying out its public land management responsibilities.

Adopted by the Board of Directors, September 12, 1992

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