Retiring Grazing Permits

Livestock production is the most widespread and destructive activity on arid and semi-arid western landscapes.  WildEarth Guardians is working to eliminate livestock grazing on federal public lands by enforcing federal environmental laws, challenging wasteful and ecologically harmful ranching subsidies, and educating the public about the real ecological costs of livestock production. The Government Accountability Office found that the federal government spends at least $144 million annually to manage private livestock grazing operations on publicly owned land, but collects only $21 million in grazing fees—for a net loss of at least $123 million per year.

Despite the significant ecological and economic costs of grazing, Congress has historically been unwilling to reduce grazing on public lands. But that is changing. WildEarth Guardians is working on a solution that would allow government and conservation organizations to "buyout" grazing permits and permanently retire the associated grazing allotments from livestock use. This concept and individual legislative proposals are advancing in Congress and are swiftly gaining acceptance in the environmental community, the livestock industry and among decisionmakers in Washington, D.C. Federal grazing permit retirement would benefit struggling ranchers, support ecological restoration of public lands and keep the West's open spaces wild.