APPLIED SCIENCE FOR LAND MANAGERS

Whereas a significant component of the membership of the Society for Range Management are land managers; and

Whereas successful land managers greatly benefit from practical applied science in the art of range management; and

Whereas many SRM-member land managers have stated to Advisory Council representatives that their needs and interests in practical applications of science relevant to their rangeland management are not being fully addressed; and

Whereas such concerns are leading some of these SRM-member land managers to question the value of their continued membership; and

Whereas SRM continues to be uniquely positioned to promote, provide and facilitate practical applications of science for the use of rangeland managers.

Therefore, be it resolved that the Board of Directors (BOD) of The Society for Range Management redouble its efforts to effectively promote and facilitate practical applications of science to land managers consistent with the mission of SRM; and

Be it further resolved that the BOD create a task force to further define the relevant issues raised by the aforementioned members and develop recommendations for specific actionable items to satisfactorily address stated concerns that could include:

1. engaging the appropriate committees to assist in facilitating the solicitation of practical applied science content in Rangelands and other SRM publications, workshops, and outreach efforts, and
2. engaging with SRM sections to promote practical and applied science to existing and potential members, and
3. creating relationships with other groups (i.e., GLCI, extension, etc.) that promote practical and applied science.

CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM

WHEREAS, the Society for Range Management supports the concept of sustainable rangeland ecosystems consistent with reasonable and prudent use; and

WHEREAS, a detrimental effect to achieving this goal has been the conversion of highly erodible lands from rangeland to cropland; and

WHEREAS, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has been successful in achieving soil conservation, clean water, clean air and enhanced wildlife habitat; and

WHEREAS, Conservation Reserve Program contracts will begin to expire September 30, 1995; and

WHEREAS, the future use and management of these lands depend on the decisions of 350,000 CRP participants; and

WHEREAS, their decisions will be guided by USDA program policy, economics of alternative land uses, and resource potential of the land.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Society advocates that productive, sustainable, economically and ecologically sound management systems be developed and applied on all CRP lands. This should be accomplished by keeping highly erodible lands in permanent vegetative cover.

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the Society also supports a strong education and information program so CRP contract holders can make informed land use and management decisions and expanded technical assistance programs that ensure all CRP producers receive conservation planning in a timely manner.

THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT

WHEREAS, the Society for Range Management supports the conservation of species and the maintenance and/or restoration of their habitats through the application of sound ecological and economic principles supported by rigorous research; and

WHEREAS, the Society advocates that legislation and laws governing the conservation of species should be implemented and managed in a cooperative manner cognizant of social and economic impacts; and

WHEREAS, the Society defines an ecosystem as

“Organisms together with their abiotic environment, forming an interacting system, inhabiting an identifiable space.”

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Society supports reauthorization of Public Law (93-295 as amended; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) entitled, “ The Endangered Species Act of 1973” with the following amendments:

• Redirect the focus of the Act from the individual species to the management of ecosystem function and sustainability.
• Require external peer/technical review of the information used in the listing process and recovery plans;
• Identify key information needs and provide for research, inventories, monitoring, and specific timelines to fill information voids;
• Designation of critical habitat and development of recovery plans shall comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 as amended
• Provide a cooperative approach to the management of private lands that may include:

1. development of voluntary, cooperative management plans/agreements;
2. purchase of easements;
3. land exchange or just compensation for landowners who cede control of their property to society for species conservation.

SALMONID FISHERIES AND RANGELAND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

WHEREAS, the Society for Range Management supports the conservation of species and their habitats and recognizes the importance and function of biological diversity, and

WHEREAS, salmon, steelhead and trout, because of their specific requirements of quality water and stream conditions, are indicators of watershed conditions in many parts of the world, and

WHEREAS, several species or populations of salmonids have been federally listed as sensitive, threatened, or endangered, and many other salmonid populations are at historically low levels because of many human impacts, and

WHEREAS, among these impacts, improper watershed management and certain competing water uses where identified can affect salmonid populations by altering timing and duration of flow and stream channel morphology and by degrading water quality and fish habitat,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Society for Range Management encourages all federal, state and provincial land management agencies and private land owners to plan and apply land and water management that maintain or restore watershed functions, and stream and riparian conditions.

WILD HORSES AND BURROS

WHEREAS, the Bureau of Land Management has adopted and implemented standards and guidelines for rangeland “health” as a basis for assessing livestock grazing effects, and

WHEREAS, the Society for Range Management takes the position that all land uses should provide for long-term sustainability of rangelands, and

WHEREAS, the Society for Range Management recognizes the standards and guidelines for rangeland “health” as prepared are equally appropriate for all herbivores, and

WHEREAS, the Society for Range Management is concerned about present management of wild horses and burros on Bureau of Land Management lands.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Society for Range Management strongly urges the Secretary of the Interior to:

1. adopt rangeland “health” standards and develop guidelines as a basis for assessing wild horse and burro grazing effects; and
2. implement timely corrective actions when wild horse and burro grazing impacts result in the inability to meet or progress toward rangeland “health” standards.