Number: 1976-10
WHEREAS, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service frequently remove vegetative growth such as pinon-juniper and sagebrush from large areas of public lands in an effort to enhance forage for livestock without adequate inventories of existing wildlife habitat; and
WHEREAS, the removal of such vegetation often deprives many species of wildlife of valuable food, cover, and nesting habitat;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in annual meeting assembled March 19-21, 1976, in Louisville, Ky., hereby expresses its concern that, from time to time, inadequately planned removal of vegetation from public land has impacted adversely on wildlife habitat; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Federation urges BLM and the U.S. Forest Service officials to give maximum consideration to wildlife values when determining the advisability of removing vegetation and to work closely with appropriate state wildlife authorities in this matter; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that when decisions are made by BLM and U.S. Forest Service officials to remove vegetative growth such as pinon-juniper on national resource lands, fullest consideration is given to piling such uprooted vegetation to retain its wildlife habitat value.