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DEPARTMENTAL REGULATION |
Number: 9500-005 |
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SUBJECT: Policy on Range |
DATE: April 21, 1988 |
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OPI: Ecological Sciences, SCS |
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1 PURPOSE
This regulation
sets forth Departmental Policy relating to range resources and coordination of
range activities among agencies of the USDA and other executive agencies,
organizations, and individuals. It is in furtherance of USDA responsibilities
mandated by the legislation identified in Section 7a. Agencies of the
Department affected by this regulation include APHIS, ARS, ASCS, CSRS, ERS, ES,
FMHA, FS, OICD, SCS, and NASS.
Range is a major
agricultural resource. Range also provides essential food and habitat for
wildlife and unique economic and recreational opportunities for people and for
communities. Range watersheds must be carefully managed to protect soil and
water resources on which all other values and uses ultimately depend.
USDA is vitally
interested in the maintenance, enhancement and wise use of the Nations's range resources. The Department has played and
will continue to play an active role in developing, demonstrating and applying
the essential science, technology and stewardship necessary to effectively
manage range resources in this nation and throughout the world.
2 BACKGROUND
The Nation's range
resource include nearly 800 million acres of range in the 50 States. The USDA
managers more than 100 million acres of publicly-owned range and USDA programs
influence the use and management of over 400 million acres of nonfederal range.
The remaining public range which is primarily managed by USDI and DOD is also
influenced by USDA programs.
Range provides a
major source of forage for livestock on thousands of American farms and
ranches. As human populations increase and demand for food and energy expands,
the need for forage and other range resources will grow.
Range provides
forage, water, recreation, wildlife and fish habitat and cover, as well as
minerals and archaeological, historical, cultural, and visual amenities.
3 CANCELLATIONS
This regulation
cancels Departmental Regulation, 9500-5 dated December 15, 1983, "Policy
on Range."
4 POLICY
It is USDA policy
to undertake activities and implement programs to:
a Protect, enhance,
and wisely use range ecosystems.
b Contribute to the
social and economic well-being of people and communities that depend on range
for their livelihoods.
c Improve the
productivity of soil, water, plant, livestock, and wildlife resources of the
Nation's ranges and provide continuing education and other technology transfer
programs to accomplish these goals.
d Support and
strengthen national and international cooperation designed to improve range
condition and productivity.
e Provide
continuing research and technology developments to enhance range conservation
and productivity and to make optimum use of all range resources.
f Promote and
facilitate cooperation and coordination among public agencies, private
organizations, and individuals in planning and implementing range programs
while minimizing duplication and overlap of duties in reaching interagency
goals affecting range.
g Provide
technical, managerial, education, and other assistance programs for range
owners, operators, and other users that will encourage the adoption and use of
conservation and management practices that protect, enhance, and permit wise
use of range resources.
h Provide periodic
range resource inventories compatible among agencies, and based upon sound
ecological principles, containing data identifying multiple-use opportunities,
and useful for protecting, enhancing, and wisely using range resources at the
local, regional, and national levels.
i Manage the range resources of the National Forest
System in an economically and ecologically sound manner, for multiple use, and
for development and demonstration of effective range management.
j Throughout all
programs, recognize and emphasize the current and future full income potentials
of the nation's range resources created by varied and changing public values,
expectations and demands.
5 ABBREVIATIONS
USDA - U.S.
Department of Agriculture
NR&E - Natural
Resources and Environment
FS - Forest Service
SCS - Soil
Conservation Service
APHIS - Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service
FmHA - Farmers Home Administration
ASCS - Agricultural
Stabilization and Conservation Service
ARS - Agricultural
Research Service
CSRS - Cooperative
State Research Service
ERS - Economic
Research Service
ES - Extension
Service
NASS - National
Agricultural Statistics Service
OICD - Office of
International Cooperation and Development
6 DEFINITIONS
a Range embraces
rangelands and also many forest lands which support an understory
or periodic cover of herbaceous or shrubby vegetation amenable to certain range
management principles or practices.
b Rangeland is land
on which the native vegetation (climax or natural potential) is predominantly
grasses, grass-like plants, forbs or shrubs suitable for grazing or browsing
use. Rangelands include natural grassland, savannas, most deserts, tundra,
alpine plant communities, coastal marshes, wet meadows and introduced plan
communities managed like rangeland.
7 RESPONSIBILITIES
a Plans of action
to implement the policies of this regulation will be developed by affected
agencies and will be subject to review by the NR&E Committee of the
Secretary's Policy and Coordination Council. These plans will be prepared in
accordance with directions of the Forest and Rangelands Renewable Resources
Planning Act of 1974 (PL 93-378), as amended; the Soil and Water Resources
Conservation Act of 1977 (PL 95-192), as amended; the Renewable Resources
Extension Act of 1978 (PL 95-306; Subtitle M, Rangeland Research, of the
Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (PL 97-98); the Public Rangelands Improvement
Act of 1978 (PL 95-514); and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976
(PL 94-579; and the Food Security Act of 1985 (PL 99-198).
bThe NR&E Committee will provide Department leadership
through a Range Issues Working Group to help implement its range responsibilities.
c The NR&E
Committee will:
(1) Coordinate the
range policies of affected USDA agencies.
(2) Provide a forum
for formulating and assessing alternative range policies and procedures to
serve the missions of the various agencies within USDA and those of other
executive agencies.
(3) Encourage and
assist USDA agencies to develop liaison, as needed, with other executive
agencies, public interest organizations, and professional societies.
(4) As appropriate,
provide the Secretary with reports of range issues under consideration,
opportunities for improvement, and progress toward resolution.
d Agency Compliance
Each agency of USDA
will maintain its policies and program direction in compliance with this
regulation. Agency heads will assure that current range program activities are
delineated and that range programs of each agency are known to the NR&E
Committee.