For Immediate Release:  Friday, April 11, 2003
Contact: Barb Perkins 303.239.3668
                Steven Hall    970.244.3052

BLM Grazing Policy Workshops Set for April in Grand Junction and Denver

 The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Colorado invites the public to attend one of the Colorado grazing policy workshops:  April  21, 5pm-7pm, Holiday Inn, 755 Horizon Drive, Grand Junction, Colorado, and April 23, 5pm–7pm, Holiday Inn, Denver West Village, Colfax and Indiana Streets in Golden, Colorado.

The workshops will deal with grazing policy changes that the BLM is considering as part of its “Sustaining Working Landscapes” initiative.  By “working Landscapes,” the BLM means landscapes on the public lands that are both economically productive and environmentally healthy.  The potential grazing policy changes, which are aimed at promoting citizen-based stewardship of the public lands, would complement the various grazing regulatory changes that the BLM is already considering.

The policy changes under consideration include several key concepts, the leading one of which is “Reserve Common Allotments.”  This would be a new type of grazing unit that permittees could use for livestock forage while their regular allotments undergo range improvement.  Under this concept, the reserve allotments would be created with ranchers cooperatively and voluntarily to promote healthier grazing lands and to help ranchers who temporarily cannot use their permits.

Another key idea is that of “Conservation Partnerships,” under which a grazing permit holder could voluntarily enter into a performance-based contract with the BLM aimed at promoting environmental health.  In return, the permittee would be eligible for stewardship grants and other incentives.  More details on these and other concepts can be found in a March 25 press release posted on the BLM’s Home Page (www.blm.gov).  The press release is titled “BLM Considers ‘Working Landscape’ Grazing Policy Changes, Seeks Public Input in Developing Ideas.”

Colorado State Director Ron Wenker urged all interested citizens to attend one of the workshops, saying, “The BLM wants to gather ideas, suggestions, and comments from the public about these potential policy changes and develop the guidance necessary to implement them.”  Wenker said anyone who is unable to attend the meetings can submit comments in writing to:  Tom Forre, BLM Colorado State Office, 2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, CO 80215 by April 23, 2003.

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