OCR Text |
Show siderable cooperation on specific wildlife problems with local sportsmen, State conservation agencies, and Federal departments. Proper regulation of the numbers of livestock and of the duration of the grazing season on the grazing allotments is one of the most important conservation functions of the Bureau of Land Management, because the only hope of restoring soil and plant cover lies in that direction. Control of the number of livestock grazed on the public domain is achieved in part by allotting grazing areas and permits only to soundly established local operators who have a personal stake in the future of the land, thereby eliminating the reckless competition between owners of transient livestock that characterized the early days of unregulated exploitation. Decisions as to numbers of livestock to be granted under each permit are made by the local Bureau of Land Management representatives, and are passed on by the local advisory boards. The latter are composed of cattlemen and sheepmen elected by the users of the range, and one wildlife representative who is appointed by the Secretary of the Interior on the recommendation of the State fish and game department of the area. Although the local advisory boards are without executive authority, their general attitude is naturally an influential factor in local range policy, including any proposed program of curtailing the present numbers of livestock in order to improve the ultimate carrying capacity of the range. Obviously, effective range restoration requires that the technical knowledge of the local Bureau of Land Management representatives be supported by an enlightened outlook regarding modern principles of range management on the part of these boards. Public education in conservation.- The awakening of the public, and of the law- making representatives of the public, to an understanding of the basic importance of soils and waters, and the magnitude of the Nation's losses in terms of them, has hardly commenced. Scattered, uncoordinated efforts are made in this direction by many public- spirited agencies and individuals, but the total effort lacks focus, and for the most part reaches only those who already are converts, while millions of the general public remain almost totally unaware that a problem which may be soberly assessed as a national catastrophe even exists. There is a demand by conservation organizations and schools for information on the work of the State fish and game departments. The latter try to fill this need, often with less than adequate funds to develop their educational programs. Beautiful pictures of wild animals often are shown, and heartening progress told of restocking activities, but seldom is there mention of the basic importance to the country of soil and water, their present plight, and the possible methods of restoration. Educational activities of most of the Federal conservation agencies, too, tend to stress the pleasant facts of accomplishment, omitting reference to problems that might arouse public inquiry and concern. The Forest Service wages a vital educational campaign against forest fires. The Bureau of Land Management is conducting a long- range campaign of practical education to demonstrate to stockmen that conservative grazing yields more pounds of beef and mutton, and more money in the long run than overgrazing, but appropriations received for this phase of the work are hardly on a scale with the need, and meanwhile soil erosion caused by overgrazing continues to drain away the life- substance of millions of acres. The National Park Service endeavors to maintain the areas under its jurisdiction as complete wildlife sanctuaries. It also stresses the importance of watershed protection in many of its educational programs. Nevertheless, for the most part, it has not been possible to present a clear- cut picture that will enable the general public to understand the basic reason why an ungrazed area with fertile top- soil, held in place by healthy vegetation within the parks, produces more abundant wildlife, clearer and better stocked trout streams, finer forests, and many more flower- covered mountain meadows than a comparable but overgrazed area. Such education in the fundamentals of soils and waters undoubtedly would enlist more active public support for the Service in its efforts to eliminate overgrazing from places like Saguaro National Mounment, where the natural conditions which led to the establishment of the area have been practically destroyed. 70 |