Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Current Knowledge and Recommended Research. (1980) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
SOCIOECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ISSUES
SOCIOECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ISSUES
Pages 172-189
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From page 172... ...
Such information is needed to supplement what is known about the use and management of public rangelands; i.e., livestock and range economics focused on economic characteristics of individual firms; economic industry studies depicting the structure of livestock-dependent communities and regions, and the impact of possible changes in these structures; and economic valuation of extra-market wildlife values, with possible extensions of methodologies to horse and burro populations. Second, decision makers in federal land-management agencies need data to help them determine proper management strategies for wild horse and burro populations on federal lands within the context of the agencies' overall responsibilities for land management.
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From page 173... ...
STATE OF KNOWLEDGE Information Sources Numerous sources were searched in order to assess the current state of knowledge regarding legal, political, economic, and sociological issues. Many journals, articles, Congressional hearings and other government documents, technical publications, books, and manuscripts chronicle the long history and intensity of the issue.
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From page 174... ...
Letters requesting information at the state and district level were sent to all BLM state offices and to all state fish and game departments that deal with wild horses and burros. Some l9 private organizations and interest groups were contacted by letter or telephone.
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From page 175... ...
. These studies provide information about and methodologies for addressing public rangeland improvement problems, which may be useful in those cases where rangeland improvements and WFRHB populations occur together and where the economic effect of improvement must be considered in the allocative management decision.
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From page 176... ...
In the specific area of WFRHB policy and law, numerous journals, articles, Congressional hearings and other government documents, technical publications, books, and manuscripts chronicle the long history and intensity of the issue. We conclude that when the printed material on this policy issue is added to the public hearing and other interview material generated by the efforts of this Committee, no primary research will be required.
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From page 177... ...
529 (l979) Constitutionality of the Act, particularly federal authority to manage wildlife on public lands.
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From page 178... ...
Many interesting and provocative accounts were found, but nearly all stemmed from hearsay. The only limited attempt to ascertain public attitudes on the issue empirically -- as well as to determine relative values associated with wild horses -- was undertaken by Rey (l975)
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From page 179... ...
are Project llB -- "Public Preferences for Alternative Management and Control Strategies," Project l2 -- "Analysis and Evaluation of Demands for Excess WFRHB," and Project l5 -- "Nonmarket Values for WFRHB." Socioeconomic data necessary to a systems-level understanding of WFRHB management issues could be generated at a third, more inclusive, level of research effort. This level would require that all projects ll-l5 be executed with the final attention to research agendas of Project llC -- "Public Attitudes, Behaviors, and Knowledge Regarding WFRHB" and Project l6 -- "Conceptual Development of Public Rangeland Management Models." Note that each higher level of effort is to include the projects in the level below it.
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From page 180... ...
, develop a taxonomy of commodity and noncommodity values and benefits associated with wild horses and burros relative to other public land resources. llB: Public Preferences for Alternative Management and Control Strategies.
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From page 181... ...
When special-interest groups are sampled, subgroups should be of at least the following sizes: livestock producers, 400; horse and burro advocates, 200; wildlife professionals, 200. The general public should be divided into informed (knowledgeable about the horse and burro issue)
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From page 182... ...
For example, livestock producers should be queried as to the way in which they perceive socioeconomic impacts of varying levels of wild horse and burro management; horse and burro advocates should be asked extra questions regarding alternative control options; wildlife professionals should address extra questions on the competitive interactions and population dynamics of horses and burros in relation to indigenous wildlife. The first section of the general public interview schedule should focus on knowledge, awareness, and understanding of the issue.
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From page 183... ...
An integrated survey of individuals and organizations active in the Adopt-A-Horse Program that seeks information on past adoptions, pending applications, characteristics of adopted animals, and potential pools of future "excess animals" will help clarify the prospects for alternative management programs. These past experiences with the adoption program can provide useful information.
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From page 184... ...
Project l3. Management Costs of WFRHB Alternatives Rationale So that WFRHB populations may be managed efficiently, there is a need to estimate the economic costs of such management activities as census and inventory, roundup and disposal, enforcement, planning, and administration under current programs.
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From page 185... ...
5. Suggest cost-effective management alternatives and optimally sized administrative and management units that will take into account the nature of economic costs and carry out required WFRHB management activities most efficiently.
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From page 186... ...
Project l5. Nonmarket Values for WFRHB Rationale This project requires an investigation into the nonmarket aspects of WFRHB.
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From page 187... ...
Conceptual Development of Public Rangeland Management Models Rationale This proposed project is meant to be a conceptual mechanism for drawing together the outputs from the various research projects to be funded under this program. Project l6 would examine the comprehensiveness of the proposed research program and suggest how the various bits and pieces of preexisting information might be integrated with the proposed research results into usable management models for several selected study areas.
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From page 188... ...
Methodology This project provides the opportunity to thoroughly review what is known about WFRHB and their interactive effects by applying that knowledge to the development of conceptual models for public rangeland management. Such models must reflect institutional as well as scientific and socioeconomic realism, and must include alternative management scenarios for multiple use of public grazing lands in the West.
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