ing) outputs. Anticipated changes in demand 

 and technology require new policies. This is 

 especially true of the Federal agencies because 

 they have multiple use responsibilities which 

 make policy development increasingly difficult 

 and probably will require new planning proce- 

 dures. 



SUMMARY 



Given the projected demand for livestock 

 feeds, the forest-range environment, through 

 carefully designated management, can be ex- 

 pected to continue to provide a part of the total 

 livestock feed requirements. This was indicated 

 by the capability of the forest-range environ- 

 ment to produce the projected grazing demands 

 for the year 2000 at a cost not in excess of the 

 Resource Situation — 1970 cost per AUM, and 

 without adverse impacts on the accompanying 

 outputs. 



This analysis has established that grazing of 

 the forest-range environment does have impor- 

 tant impacts on the other outputs; but grazing 

 management (combinations of strategies) can 

 be developed which will enhance environmental 

 quality at competitive costs. 



From the viewpoint of national demands and 

 considering investment costs, a changing geo- 

 graphic emphasis on production will be re- 

 quired. In the traditional grazing areas of the 

 West, particularly those lands in low produc- 

 tivity classes and in poor condition in 1970, 

 the cost of maintaining grazing and improving 

 the output of environmental qualities is high. 

 Therefore, there should be a reassessment of 

 the levels and management direction for use of 

 such lands for domestic grazing. On areas 

 where productivity potential is high, an oppor- 

 tunity exists to intensify the management. The 

 intensive management of these areas not only 

 will improve the quantity of environmental 

 quality outputs, but will serve to maintain the 

 livestock production level in many areas, and 

 minimize the impact of reduced grazing on 

 selected other lands. 



The great bulk of the forest-range environ- 

 ment is in non-Federal ownership. The major 

 impacts of grazing on environmental quality 

 will depend on how the non-Federal sector man- 

 ages its lands simply because that sector con- 

 trols most of the land. If national demands for 

 all of the outputs discussed herein are to be 

 achieved, then the non-Federal sector must con- 

 tribute more effectively. The management levels 

 suggested in Alternative 19 call for intensive 

 management of many ecosystems, especially in 

 the Eastern Forest ecogroup where consider- 

 able exploitative grazing now exists. 



The acreage of the forest-range environment 

 administered by the Federal agencies is smaller 

 than the non-Federal sector, but generally has 

 unique characteristics. Because of these unique 

 characteristics, the Federal agencies have 

 major opportunities to have impact on selected 

 environmental outputs through the manage- 

 ment of grazing. Federal agencies administer 

 those lands which, because of their physical 

 characteristics, are major sources of sediment 

 in streams. A revised selection of management 

 strategies would serve to reduce this problem. 



There is an opportunity suggested to bring 

 National Forest System lands of the Eastern 

 Forest ecogroup into grazing production. 

 Bringing these lands into grazing use under 

 the strategies suggested in Alternative 19 

 would decrease the grazing pressure on some 

 of the more fragile lands and make them avail- 

 able for such uses as non-game birds, rare 

 species, and certain types of recreation. 



It would have been helpful in this study to 

 relate grazing demand to the changes in na- 

 tional demands for the other outputs (environ- 

 mental) and the ability of the forest-range to 

 meet those projected needs. Such opportunities 

 are beyond the limits of the data. It is possible, 

 however, to conclude that grazing of the Na- 

 tion's forest-range environment is compatible 

 with the increasing demands for livestock feed, 

 and that these increases can be achieved on a 

 national basis, and without reduction in envi- 

 ronmental quality. 



95 



