A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 587 



favorable topography, good water supply, and a wide variety of 

 vegetation, this land furnishes ample feed as the season advances 

 from early spring to late fall. Year-long use of the range is provided 

 extensively only in the Southwest. 



Of the usable range it is estimated that about 40 million acres are 

 timbered, 20 million acres woodland, 20 million acres grass, with 

 brush and burns making up the balance. 



For the calendar year 1931, 19,388 permits were issued for 1,338,373 

 cattle, 37,335 horses, and 431 swine. For the same year 6,319 permits 

 were issued for 6,593,583 sheep and 14,645 goats. The total number 

 of stock grazed in 1931 was the lowest for the past 6 years. Lowered 

 range capacity due to the drought during this period was responsible 

 for four fifths of the reduction in numbers, and miscellaneous causes 

 such as closure of areas for various purposes, voluntary reductions, 

 adjustments due to land exchange, etc., accounted for the balance. 



Over the years the use of range by domestic stock has had to be 

 adjusted to provide for the needs of other resources. In 1931, 1,334,- 

 659 acres of usable range were closed for recreation, 2,785,198 for 

 game, 719,492 acres for watershed protection, 191,902 acres for 

 timber protection, and 121,416 acres for other purposes. 



RANGE MANAGEMENT 



The forage resource lends itself to systematic management and 

 cultural treatment in the same way as does the timber. It is the 

 objective of range management to raise the productivity of the forest 

 ranges to the maximum and to regulate their use both in the interest 

 of the stock raiser and so as to avoid impairment of the value and 

 enjoyment of other resources. Thus grazing must be so limited as 

 not only to avoid damaging the forage resource itself, but also to 

 avoid starting erosion, to exclude stock from heavily used recreational 

 areas, to leave adequate forage for game, and, above all, to prevent 

 damage to young forest growth. 



Range management plans are prepared or under way for each of 

 the 4,005 cattle and horse and 4,859 sheep and goat^ allotments. 

 These plans are both written and graphic. They prescribe the class 

 of stock to which the range is best adapted, the number of stock to 

 be allowed, the season best suited to growth requirements of the 

 vegetation, and the manner by which the stock will be handled to 

 secure uniform distribution and utilization, and to avoid conflict 

 with other important uses of the forest. The plan of management 

 also takes advantage of natural features which influence the movement 

 or control of stock, and prescribes such improvements as fences, 

 water development, bridges, corrals, and pastures as are necessary to 

 facilitate management. Seventy-eight percent of the cattle and 

 horse and 80 percent of the sheep and goat allotments were handled 

 under plans during 1931. 



The effectiveness of such plans is indicated by the fact that the 

 majority of the ranges are properly stocked and have reasonably 

 satisfactory distribution, and nearly 90 percent have satisfactory 

 seasonal use. While these plans are the result of experience and 

 investigation, and are developed in cooperation with the permittees, 

 the inherent prejudice on the part of owners to changes recommended 

 is one of the most difficult obstacles to overcome. Furthermore, 

 reliance for the execution of the plans all too often must be placed on 



