In regard to the uses for which the grasses are adapted, great 

 differences exist between bunchgrasses on western ranges and 

 turf-forming sods such as are found on improved pastures of the 

 humid East or irrigated lands of the West. The bunchgrasses 

 cannot stand as heavy grazing as the turf-forming grasses. They 

 lose vigor, decline in forage production, and eventually die as a 

 result of too heavy grazing. However, if properly grazed, bunch- 

 grasses and associated plants produce, year after year, forage that 

 can sustain livestock and game. But not all vegetation is forage. 

 Some plants are relished by livestock, others are not so well liked, 

 and many are hardly grazed at all unless a deficient supply of 

 better forage forces their use. Moreover, grazing must be suffi- 

 ciently conservative so that enough stubble of basal stems and 

 leaves of the more palatable plants is left to maintain their vigor 

 and continued growth. 



Of the 152 national forests, about 100 are important for grazing. 

 There are roughly 10,000 grazing allotments, some used by indi- 

 vidual operators, others used jointly by community groups. The 

 demand for national-forest range far exceeds its capacity. 



The principles guiding grazing administration on the national 

 forests are: 



1. The protection and conservative use of all national-forest 

 land adapted to grazing consistent with the protection of other 

 important uses of the land. 



2. The permanent good of the livestock industry through proper 

 care and improvement of the grazing lands. 



3. The continued stability of the established ranch owners 

 using the range. 



The following 35 questions and answers are designed to give 

 in more detail the important points regarding the administration 

 of grazing use of the national forests. 



1. Are sportsmen, stockmen, campers, water users, timber 

 operators, miners, or any other group favored by the policy 

 governing the adrninistration of the national forests? 



No. The national forests are administered on the basis of the 

 multiple-use principle, and no special favors are given to any 

 particular group or groups of users. Each resource — timber, 

 forage, wildlife, recreational features, water, etc. — is managed so 

 as to permanently serve as many users as possible without injuring 

 or unnecessarily restricting any other type of user. Small areas, 

 however, may be limited to a particular use, such as a picnic 

 ground. 



