Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
The bill creates a space for third party compensation for grazing permittees in New Mexico to continue growing, provides tools for federal land managers dealing with record drought
WASHINGTON (Nov. 1, 2021) – Today, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced the Wildlife-Livestock Conflict Resolution Act, legislation that allows federal grazing permittees to voluntarily retire their grazing permits. Senators Heinrich and Luján are introducing the legislation as options for third party compensation for retired permits continue to grow, easing financial worries of ranchers and rural communities.
“The Wildlife-Livestock Conflict Resolution Act creates a framework to solve some of our thorniest conflicts between livestock producers and our native wildlife,” said Heinrich. “It will ensure that families who have held permits for decades can hang onto the base properties where their family memories are made and it ensures they can be fairly compensated for their grazing leases. Additionally, it creates a path forward where wildlife like bighorn sheep or even predators can have the room to roam that they need to survive.”
“This legislation provides ranchers with the opportunity to voluntarily retire their grazing permits,” said Luján. “I look forward to working with Senator Heinrich, New Mexico ranchers, and leading conservation organizations to ensure continued support for land stewardship preservation.”
In most cases, there is not a clear-cut path for voluntary grazing permit retirements under current federal law, though such retirements often greatly benefit wildlife water resources.
Grazing permit retirement through the Wildlife-Livestock Conflict Resolution Act would be a voluntary, non-regulatory, market-based solution to public lands grazing conflicts. With free-market partnerships growing between non-profit organizations providing compensation to permit holders that voluntarily donate their permits, financial hardships faced by ranchers can be eased.
Ranchers could determine if and when they want to retire their public land grazing permits. The rancher and third parties then come to an agreement on how much a permittee will be compensated. The Wildlife-Livestock Conflict Resolution Act caps the total number of grazing permits that may be retired each year at 10.
Ranchers and conservation organizations that are praising the introduction of the Wildlife-Livestock Conflict Resolution Act include New Mexico Wildlife Federation, New Mexico Wild, Audubon Southwest, Conservation Voters of New Mexico, Western Resource Advocates, The Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, Western Watersheds Project, National Wildlife Federation, Upper Gila Watershed Alliance, Gila Conservation Coalition, Endangered Species Coalition, The Wilderness Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, Animal Protection Voters, Grand Canyon Trust, Amigos Bravos, Western Environmental Law Center, and WildEarth Guardians.
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