Rescinding the Roadless Area Conservation Rule

Rescinding the Roadless Area Conservation Rule

During a meeting of the Western Governors’ Association in New Mexico, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that the Department of Agriculture is rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule. “This outdated administrative rule contradicts the will of Congress and...
Cheatgrass and Cattle

Cheatgrass and Cattle

Regarded as “one of the most significant ecological crises facing land managers in the arid West,” invasive cheatgrass has increased fire frequency in the Great Basin from once every 30-70 years to every 3-10 years. As Aldo Leopold observes in A Sand County Almanac,...
Revenue-Driven Wildlife Management

Revenue-Driven Wildlife Management

As reported by The Colorado Sun, wild turkeys are thriving in the eastern half of Colorado to the point of becoming a nuisance in towns and cities. Merriam’s turkeys are native to the foothills and mountains of Colorado, but the population explosion is occurring among...
Vegetation Near Homes — Not Always a Fire Risk

Vegetation Near Homes — Not Always a Fire Risk

Researchers Max Moritz and Luca Carmignani have penned an article raising concerns about a California plan to ban plants within 5 feet of homes for wildfire safety. “As scientists who study how vegetation ignites and burns, we recognize that well-maintained plants and...