Rangeland and Grazing
Why does the Forest Service permit livestock grazing on National Forest System lands?
The Forest Service and the Intermountain Region support livestock grazing on National Forest System lands (National Forests and Grasslands). We believe that livestock grazing on these lands, if responsibly done, provides a valuable resource to the livestock owners as well as the American people.
While the Forest Reserves were originally established to protect timberlands and watersheds, it was recognized early in the history of the Reserves (later National Forests) that grazing was a legitimate use. In 1897, the newly formed Forest Service was authorized by Congress to regulate grazing and permit it as long as it did not injure forest growth. The agency's controls (permits, herd size, allotments, season of use) were attempts to protect the resource and prevent the monopolization by large outfits (Rowley 1985).
The Forest Service has supported controlled livestock grazing since the very early days of the agency.
Laws, Regulations, and Policies
Laws, regulations, and policies direct Forest Service rangeland management. Policies are the Forest Service's rules defining rangelands management and are documented in agency manuals and handbooks. Follow this link to Forest Service National Rangeland Management website with the information, laws, regulations, and policies that govern rangeland management for the Forest Service and the Intermountain Region.
Annual Operating Instructions (AOI)
Annual Operating Instructions (AOIs) are used to address any resource protection issues that may have arisen since the issuance of a permit and communicate these instructions to the permittee. They are only issued if allotment National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) is completed and must be in accordance with the allotment NEPA, the Forest’s Land and Resource Management Plan, Aquatic Conservation Strategy and Aquatic Management Strategy.
They are issued when it is desirable to adjust management within the scope of the NEPA decision to achieve desired outcomes, adapt to changing conditions, or otherwise implement adaptive management that may be part of the NEPA decision
AOIs are optional documents that are only needed when the current permit and Allotment Management Plan do not address changing situations. Being within the scope of the allotment NEPA decision, they are not required to undergo any additional site-specific environmental analysis.
AOIs set forth the following:
- The maximum permissible grazing use authorized on the allotment for the current grazing season and should specify numbers and timing and duration of use.
- The planned sequence of grazing on the allotment, or the management prescriptions and monitoring that will be used to make changes.
- Structural and non-structural improvements to be constructed, reconstructed, or maintained and who is responsible for these activities.
- Allowable use or other standards to be applied and followed by the permittee to properly manage livestock.
- Monitoring for the current season that may include, among other things, documentation demonstrating compliance with the terms and conditions in the grazing permit, AMP), and AOI. Where adaptive management prescriptions are being followed, this section of the AOI must provide details about those monitoring items
Visit any forest in the Intermountain Region for their specific AOIs.