WSP04067

• File Number: 8027
• Description: Section D General Correspondence - Federal Agencies - US Department of Agriculture-Forest Service
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 5/21/1964
• Author: American Forestry As
• Title: A Conservation Program for American Forestry - Policy Statement - American Forestry Association
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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on (a) the relations between various forest and
range- management, ,practices and wildlife protection;
(b) factors limiting the production of wildlife on
those lands, (c) potentialities for damage to forest
ahd range resources by overpopulations of certain
wildlife species, and (d) techniques for controlling
wildlife damage or populations when ne~essary, to
the end that wildlife populations may be maintained
at appropriate levels consistent with the multiple use
concept of land. management.
5. That in the formulation of forest and range
management plans, fish and wildlife management be
accorded a definite place, and the fact recognized
that in certain areas forest and range practices should
be modified in the -interests of wildlife. Provision
should be made in these plans for optimum' use of
forage in harmony with all other forest resources.
.6. That state resource agencies work closely with
owners of forest and other type lands to promote
greater use of these' lands for recreational activities
which are not detrimental to the major management
objective of the owners.
7. That all states review, and if necessary amend,
liability laws pertaining to rec.reationaI- use of p~ivate
land. .
E. Grazing on Public Lands
A little less than half of the 728 million acres of
rangeland in the western states (excluding Alaska)
is in public ownership. Much of this land could
benefit 'by some kind of range. improvement treat~
ment.. Pregress is being made- slowly now.in improv~
iug these ranges. However, a greatly expanded pro-
gram of range improvement is needed.
In Alaska extensive areaS. of the public domain
are used' by wildlife and Eskimo reindeer herds.
There special problems of inventory and manage.
ment require extensive study.

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not be considered a permanent right. However, such
length of tenure should be made available to the
livestock perJllittee as will offer -him incentive to .co-
operate with the federal agencies in range improve-
ment programs. Appropriate grazing fees should be

charged.
5, That the principles of good land use and range
improvement receive maximum support from federal
agencies, public land 1,lsers, - the Congress, and. the
public. " .

F. Mining on Public Lands

Efficient management of millions of acres' of fed-
eral public lands, including the discovery an~ ~evel-
opment of new or knoWn mineral resources, 18 m the
public interest. The miner and prospector should be
encouraged.to carry on,suchworku,nder the ~ystem
of mining claims and patents and mmeral leasmg.

Since the 1953 Forest Congress, much progress
has been made in securing legislation through the
efforts of The American Forestry Association, the
American Mining Congress, and others to correct
abuses occurring under the mining laws.
A problem still exists in the definition of "com-
mon varieties" of minerals as applied to mining
claims. Another problem is posed by the integra-
tion of mining use with the use of surface resources
such as timber, forage, recreation, and water.

We recommend:

1. That the agencies responsible for public land
management move aggressively to clear trespass oc-
cupancy with particular emphasis on fraudulent

entry.
2. That although existing legislation is adequate
for most actions a continuing' study of mining legis.'
lation be conducted with the objective of keeping the
legal tools in harmony with needs. .

3. That study be given -to the development of
legislation to afford reasonable prediscovery protec-
tion to those who are engaged in seeking a mineral
discovery.

G. Access

Only one,fourth of the nation's publicly owned
commercial forest land has a ,road system adequate
to serve all related uses economically. This lac~ of
access not 'only restricts economic - growth but also
makes it impossible to utilize opportunities for recre~
ation and wildlife management in large parts of the
western forests. Furthermore, the present method of
financing road construction is tied largely to current
stumpage sales. This arrangement tends to increase
costs of forest development, hamper improvement
of timber supply, and place. a disproportionate finan-.
cial burden upon the production of timber. Inas-
much as roads serve all uses of the forest, each use
should bear its share of construction and mainte-
nance costs.

We recommend:

1. That public land administering agencies launch
an aggressive program for developing rangeland re~
source appraisals, including such aspects as (a) land
treatment, (b) use, (c) research requirements, and
(d) costs required to improve the land to its maxi-
mum potential use consistent with multiple use
management.

2. That sustained range._ productivity be main-
tailled, preferably in cooperation' with land _users,
through such measures as use adjustments, rotation
grazing, seeding, water spreading, plant control, and
other land treatment measures and management
practices, in 'full consideration of multiple use needs
of water, timber, grazing; wildlife, and other uses
on public lands. .

.3. That numbers of livestock and game be
brought into and kept in balance with the sustained
grazing capacity of the range by periodic. adjust-
ments.

4. That permits to graze livestock on public lands

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