Tim Canterbury, the President of the Public Lands Council and a grazing permittee from Colorado, recently provided testimony before the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands. His testimony focused on the importance of the multiple-use mandate and its benefits for America’s rangelands. During his address, Canterbury emphasized the critical need to uphold balanced land management practices that support various uses, including grazing.

In his testimony, Canterbury expressed concern over recent policy changes that have disrupted the equilibrium of multiple use management on public lands. He stated, “Over the last four years, several policy changes have eroded the careful balance of multiple use management and threatened grazing’s place on the landscape.” He specifically criticized the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) “Public Lands rule,” asserting that it undermines the agency’s historical commitment to the multiple-use mandate by prioritizing certain single uses over grazing. This shift, according to Canterbury, poses risks not only to ranchers but also to the ecological health of rangelands.

Canterbury further criticized the Biden Administration’s alterations to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), claiming that these changes have led to an inequitable approach in land management that favors specific industries, such as solar and wind energy. He argued, “The Biden Administration’s changes to NEPA and how they handled land management picked winners and losers among multiple uses, while leaving public lands more vulnerable to catastrophic wildfires.” This prioritization, he noted, resulted in a misallocation of resources, where essential land management activities were delayed or deprioritized, ultimately exacerbating wildfire risks and degrading natural resources.

During his testimony, Canterbury outlined several actionable steps that Congress could take to restore balance and promote effective land management strategies. He called for collaboration with the current administration to enhance grazing flexibility and update outdated laws that have been misused against ranchers. “Congress needs to work closely to increase grazing flexibility and modernize outdated laws that have been weaponized against ranchers,” he stated. He advocated for the passage of significant legislation, such as the Fix Our Forests Act, which aims to improve forest management and reduce wildfire risks.

Moreover, Canterbury highlighted the necessity of expanding targeted grazing practices beyond traditional grazing allotments. He pointed out that the highest fire risks often exist in areas outside these allotments, where untreated fuel loads pose a significant threat to surrounding ecosystems. He emphasized the importance of proactive land management strategies to mitigate wildfire risks, stating, “The greatest fire risks are in areas outside allotments, where fuel loads have been left untreated for years and are a threat to all the uses around them.”

Additionally, Canterbury urged for the modernization of NEPA and the Endangered Species Act, arguing that current regulations do not keep pace with the demands of contemporary conservation efforts. He noted that lengthy review processes have hindered critical conservation work, stating, “There are permittees that have been waiting more than a decade on a single NEPA review; this is unacceptable in the digital age and is one of the biggest reasons wildfires have been raging in the West.” This assertion underscores the urgency for legislative reforms that facilitate timely and effective land management practices.

Canterbury’s testimony serves as a clarion call for policymakers to recognize the intrinsic value of multiple-use management on public lands. By advocating for balanced land management that accommodates various uses, including grazing, he emphasizes the need for a collaborative approach that addresses the complexities of land stewardship in the face of escalating wildfire risks and ecological challenges. His insights aim to inspire robust legislative action that prioritizes the health of rangelands and the livelihoods of those who depend on them.

Source: National Cattlemen’s Beef Association