Improved management actions are needed to protect...
our Western Heritage 

Western rangelands have been utilized by ranchers, farmers, hunters, campers, and other recreationists for centuries. In recent years, these many land uses have been impacted by a lapse in adequate management of horse and burro populations. The detrimental ecological impacts of horse and burro overpopulation have resulted in a depletion of resources for cattle as well as for native wildlife that draw outdoor enthusiasts to the area.

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Multiple Use Rangelands

Under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the BLM is tasked with managing public rangelands under a multiple-use mandate.  This mandate requires the agency to manage for various resources "that will best meet the present and future needs of the American people." Included in these mandated multiple uses are ranching, hunting, camping, energy development, species and habitat protection, and horse and burro management. These practices are able to be managed alongside one another by adjusting uses to account for rangeland health and resources present. Unfortunately, the BLM has let wild horses and burros go largely unmanaged in recent years. The inability of the agency to properly adhere to the multiple-use mandate throws off the balance land use management plans work to maintain.

​Rural Communities

Over 90% of public lands are located in Western states. Many communities are dependent on access to and use of these lands for their livelihoods. Because they depend on the land, these communities are invested in maintaining and improving the health of the rangelands. By paying grazing fees, utilizing targeted grazing to control invasive species and reduce fire fuel loads, and other actions, they help support healthy watersheds, carbon sequestration, recreational opportunities, and wildlife habitats.

The Western Heritage Fact Sheet