Partner logos: Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, National Park Service, University of Montana Wilderness.net Logo
Connecting federal employees, scientists, educators, and the public with their wilderness heritage

Grazing Toolbox

The Grazing Toolbox is a 'work in progress' and represents only the information available. In addition to the resources provided here, you may also be able to obtain advice and recommendations through discussion on Wilderness Connect. Date of last update: 3/2/12.
  1. Introduction
    1. Overview
      This toolbox is intended to facilitate the management of permitted grazing operations within designated wilderness areas. It is not intended as guidance in the application of grazing as a management technique (e.g., controlling non-native invasive plants), though some of the material presented here may be useful in such circumstances. Neither is it intended as guidance on the grazing of recreational stock or management of wild horses and burros, though a document on monitoring grazing impacts from recreational stock has been included as it may be of use in analyzing similar impacts from non-recreational livestock.

      Materials in this toolbox originally created by either the Bureau of Land Management or Forest Service are largely interchangeable between agencies. Few wilderness areas managed by the Fish & Wildlife Service or the National Park Service have traditional permitted grazing operations, so some material in this toolbox may not be applicable to wilderness stewards in those agencies. In any case, be sure to check your agency's policies and the enabling legislation of you wilderness.
    2. Basis in the Wilderness Act and meaning of law
    3. Congressional Grazing Guidelines
      1. House Report 96-1126
      2. Implications of the Congressional Grazing Guidelines
      3. House Report 101-405A
    4. Wilderness laws with specific grazing management direction
  2. Agency Policies, Management Guidelines, Processes, and Templates
    1. BLM
      1. Regulations (43 CFR 6304.25)
      2. Policy (6340 1.6.C.8)
      3. Comparison of standard grazing practices with those in Wilderness and WSAs
    2. FWS
      1. Policy (610 FW 2.16, 2.17, 2.18)
    3. FS
      1. Regulations (36 CFR 293.7), Policy (FSM 2323), and Management Practices
  3. Examples
    1. Environmental Assessment (San Juan Landscape Rangeland)
    2. Grazing Reauthorization Decision Memo (Ashley National Forest)
    3. Range Conditions and Standards (Ashley National Forest)
    4. Range Rescission Act Evaluation (Ashley National Forest)
  4. Monitoring
    1. Monitoring Plan examples
      1. Monitoring Grazing Impacts from Recreational Stock (Anaconda Pintler Wilderness)
    2. Example forms
      1. Documentation of Motorized Equipment or Mechanical Transport Use
  5. Resources and References
    1. Files or links to selected research publications and other materials
      1. Wilderness Stewardship Reference System (WSRS)