|
 E-mail Story Print Friendly
Opinion editorials Handling of Pit Appeal Calls for a Time-Out |
Front Page 
opinion editorialsThis editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by editorial page staff and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers
.
Monday, May 04, 2009
$50,000 Equals How Many Animal Units?
Since 2000 the Valles Caldera National Preserve has been required by Congress to maintain a "working ranch." It's also required to be financially self-sufficient by 2015. That's a tough — some might say impossible — balancing act.
So the decision of the Valles Caldera Trust to dismiss out of hand any grazing proposal with fewer than 500 animal units —cows plus calves — seems short-sighted. Especially one that offers $50,000 to run "three to five cows" on the 89,000-acre Jemez Mountain property.
So far the preserve's grazing program and limited hunting, fishing and recreational opportunities haven't come close to covering the bills. The Trust is considering other money-making ideas including van tours and a luxury lodge.
Bryan Bird, public lands director for WildEarth Guardians, says "dollar for dollar, our offer is the best taxpayers can ask for. Water and wildlife are the highest value the preserve can offer, and we want to protect those priceless resources for all New Mexicans. We're willing to pay for that."
WildEarth's bid is nearly as much as last year's winning bid from a Las Vegas, N.M., rancher.
It's not a new modus operandi for the group, the successor to Forest Guardians. In 1996 it leased what would become 2,000 acres of state land on the Rio Puerco south of Cuba; today cottonwoods and willows flourish where cows once grazed.
WildEarth included a few cows in this year's Valles Caldera bid after last year's was rejected, presumably because it involved zero cows. But the group contends the trust doesn't have authority to mandate a minimum number of livestock.
The trust does have the responsibility to ensure the preserve meets its congressionally mandated requirement of self sufficiency. That should entail accepting the bid that gives taxpayers the most bang for their buck. And presumably that would be based in dollars, not animal units.
You also can send comments via our comment form
|
|
