The National Forests of New Mexico. 7 



have covered 10 acres. In spite of the fire protection organization 

 of the Forest Service, however, there is an average of nearty 200 fires 

 each year on the National Forests of New Mexico. These fires burn 

 over about 12,500 acres annually and damage the timber and grazing 



Fig. 5. — About 428,000 sheep and goats graze on New Mexico's National Forests. 



resources to the amount of $8,000. One-third of these fires are 

 started by lightning and are unavoidable ; but, as two-thirds of them 

 are the result of the carelessness of man, there is an excellent op- 

 portunity for reducing the annual loss, provided extreme care with 

 fires is exercised by all users of the Forests. 



The Forest ranges of New Mexico are a large factor in the live- 

 stock industrv of the State. About 178,000 head of cattle and horses 



Fig. 6. 



-High mountain summer range. The National Forests of New Mexico provide 

 range for about 17S.00O cattle and horses. 



and 428,000 head of sheep and goats, are grazed annually on the Na- 

 tional Forests within its borders. (Figs. 5 and 6.) The purpose of 

 the grazing regulations of the Forest Service is to produce an equitable 

 distribution of grazing privileges and a permanent grazing industry. 

 In the application of these regulations the interests of the small 



