Introduction:
“First, I would like to note that the opposition and comments against Wilderness stated by some Dona Ana County ranchers have been expressed as if these individuals have great experience and first hand working knowledge of BLM Wilderness in New Mexico or the Western United States. I suspect that most of their concerns are conjecture or second hand misperceptions. And while I can appreciate their concerns, the facts and historical evidence regarding ranching within wilderness tell a completely different story.

I worked as a BLM Rangeland Management Specialist permitting livestock grazing in the El Malpais National Conservation Area which contains the West Malpais and Cebolla Wilderness from the time the areas were designated on December 31, 1987 until my retirement in May 2005. The most important fact I can relay to the folks in Dona Ana County, specifically the ranching and agriculture community, is that there has been no change whatsoever in the number of ranchers in operation or the numbers of cattle on the land in the 20 years since the West Malpais has been designated a Wilderness area.

For the benefit of local citizens, I will enumerate the main concerns, and unfortunately myths, put forth by some local ranchers. I will than outline the corresponding facts and real-world practicalities related to these concerns. Given the potential role these assertions and myths play in any Wilderness debate, including in Dona Ana County, it is critical that all citizens and elected officials understand the law, and facts behind a Wilderness designation.

Ranching has been a part of Wilderness since the passage of the Wilderness Act in 1964 when ranching was included as a traditional activity legally allowed in protected Wilderness areas. Forty years later, ranching still exists in Wilderness, including millions of acres of BLM Wilderness across the Western United States.

Myth 1:
“Permanent, regular access essential to ranch management is lost with imposition of a permitting process allowing only “occasional” use of vehicle and other mechanized equipment.”

When an area is designated Wilderness, BLM officials are required to work with the rancher to find suitable access and maintenance agreements. The fact that ranching still exists where BLM Wilderness has been designated is testament to Wilderness’ viability for ranchers, and a statement of commitment to effective cooperation on behalf of the federal government. Regular access to a ranching allotment really is matter of occasional use of motorized and mechanized equipment. The ranchers’ real issue is this freedom of access. The crux of the matter revolves around the change in the routine way of doing business. Participating in a plan for ranch maintenance (as required under Wilderness) could be considered to be undesirable by some ranchers, but my experience and that of many ranchers operating on millions of acres of Wilderness in the Western United States, is that in a short time, the maintenance plan becomes just another routine part of business. For new ranchers coming to graze on Wilderness allotments, the maintenance plan is the only experience they will have on these lands, and as such, they will quickly acclimate and accommodate the arrangement. History has shown time and again that ranchers successfully acclimate to the establishment of new BLM Wilderness Areas.


Myth 2:
“Wilderness negatively impacts ranch values and saleability.”

During my tenure with the Cebolla and West Malpais Wildernesses, four ranches sold. One of these ranches was purchased for around $700,000. Three years later the grazing permittee was offered $1.3 million for the ranch.


Myth 3:
“Wilderness brings the likelihood of conflicts with the administrative agency over normal management practices, such as reservoir and road repairs, cattle numbers, etc.”

I can not validate this concern. During my tenure, dirt tank and road repairs were made as needed. To facilitate the maintenance needs, a motorized vehicle and mechanized use plan was developed between the grazing permittee and the BLM. These plans are the means by which the land management agency works with the rancher in Wilderness areas to define the needs and access plan for their grazing allotment. The plan describes the conditions where the use of vehicles and equipment for improvement maintenance is appropriate. The plan insures timely maintenance including emergencies.

Furthermore, 80% of the areas in Dona Ana County that are being proposed for the Wilderness designation are currently managed as Wilderness Study Areas (WSA), with federal interim management guidelines which generally are more strenuous than Wilderness guidelines. This fact means that for over 15 years, many of the local ranchers who are opposing Wilderness in Dona Ana County, have dealt successfully with on the ground federal guidelines for protection and management of Wilderness.


Myth 4:
“In Wilderness, new improvements are prohibited unless allowed by a permit process to maintain historical operations. Any ranch which cannot make improvements and maintain existing improvements is likely to fail.”

On all BLM public lands, new ranch improvements can not be constructed without a permit. No permit for new range improvements can guarantee an increase in permitted livestock. In fact, my experience is that most new improvements are needed to maintain historic operations.


Myth 5:
“Wilderness causes reductions in income from livestock sales (fewer cattle, fewer pounds to sell) and increases in operating expenses ( increased time and manpower required in every management practice due to prevention of vehicle and equipment use, increased time in dealing with the administrative agency, etc.)”

“Wilderness sooner of later causes loss of the ability to continue livestock grazing operations.”

During my time working in BLM New Mexico Wilderness, no grazing permits were reduced due to Wilderness consideration. It has been over 20 years since the El Malpais National Conservation Area including the West Malpais and Cebolla Wildernesses were designated by Congress and no one has gone out of business. The same experience has held true for millions of acres of BLM Wilderness in Arizona. These are the facts behind the Wilderness experience, and should inform any serious debate about how Wilderness and ranching co-exist.


Myth 6:
“A National Conservation Area (NCA) designation can be as restrictive as Wilderness."

It is not Congress’ intent to make NCAs defacto Wilderness. Unlike Wilderness, there is no federal law establishing a management criterion for a National Conservation Area. First and foremost, NCA’s by definition are not road less areas. Congress, when it establishes an NCA, requires that a comprehensive land use plan be prepared. NCA plans are the same as any BLM land use plan in that it has to include decisions on management for all BLM programs. NCA legislation can include or exclude activities as desired by Congress and the community, and for this reason, is a particularly popular designation with Congress. Each NCA is a unique national natural “crown jewel”, while allowing for use of certain existing roads and structures that could be precluded in a Wilderness Area. While this can be desirable for certain areas such as the foothills of the Organ Mountains, other times a Wilderness designation is more desirable and necessary to protect the untouched and pristine nature of spectacular public lands, as well as critical watersheds and wildlife.


Myth 7:
“The hidden agenda of some “environmental” groups is to stop any beneficial use of the land, including livestock grazing. They promote Wilderness or NCA status to achieve their agenda.”

Only the U.S. Congress has the authority to designate Wilderness or National Conservation Areas. Congress was clear in Public Law 100-225 which provided for the El Malpais designations that livestock grazing would continue under the same grazing regulations as for other BLM public land. Congress has included this language in all BLM Wilderness bills since. The Wilderness designation holds no other agenda than to protect America’s pristine public lands. The protected Wilderness in 44 states and 24 areas in New Mexico hold testament to its fundamental purpose and benefits.


Myth 8:
“Multiple-use management practices presently in use on all areas in Dona Ana County currently proposed as Wilderness and an NCA are effective in caring for and preserving the lands. A Wilderness designation severely curtails use and enjoyment by most of the public, while preventing some management practices essential for ranching operations and which also benefit wildlife (maintaining water, salt, control of invasive plant species, etc.)”

As previously mentioned, livestock grazing continues on BLM designated Wilderness areas in New Mexico; over 20 years in the West Malpais and Cebolla Wilderness areas. Furthermore, approximately 80% of the areas in Dona Ana County that are being proposed for the Wilderness designation are currently managed as Wilderness Study Areas (WSA), which have more stringent federal management guidelines than Wilderness. The ranchers who operate in these areas are still in business, and the public use and enjoyment of them have only increased.

With the exception of mechanized vehicle traffic and motorized equipment, Wilderness allows all types of recreation, including hiking, camping, birding, horseback riding, hunting, and more. This is an important consideration for public lands which are adjacent to rapidly growing urban areas like Las Cruces. Many of these public lands are currently experiencing dramatic increases in off road motorized vehicle use which can have negative impact on uses such as horse back riding, hiking, hunting, livestock grazing, wildlife, and watersheds. Of the almost 13 million acres of BLM public land in New Mexico, there are currently only 156,708 acres designated Wilderness. This is just slightly over 1 % of the New Mexico BLM public lands which are available for non motorized recreational use. Motorized vehicles, such as ATVs, are still allowed on the remaining 99 %.


Myth 9:
“Grazing fees are assessed by BLM in part for BLM administrative costs, and to fund improvements such as wells, storage tank, pipelines, earthen reservoirs, fences and brush control. Ranchers’ property rights associated with their ranches include water rights rights-of-ways associated with roads and trails, ownership improvements, ownership of deeded land, grazing permits and State land lease rights. When Wilderness is established, the ranchers’ property values are diminished.”

There is a reoccurring theme by Dona Ana County Ranchers that the Wilderness designation reduces rancher’s property values, results in reduction in livestock grazing and will cause the ranchers to go out of business. These concerns are hypothetical and are not supported by reality. Livestock grazing continues on all the New Mexico BLM designated Wilderness, as well as millions of acres of BLM Wilderness in the Western United States. Additionally, experience has shown, that rancher’s property values do not decrease with a Wilderness designation, and in some cases, actually increase in value.


Myth 10:
“A Wilderness designation does not improve or add to the rights of anyone, but in fact severely restricts the public’s right of access and use, while seriously harming ranchers.”

Wilderness designation does not impinge on anyone’s rights. In fact the opposite is true. Wilderness allows the full compliment of recreational uses with the exception of mechanized vehicle traffic. Livestock grazing will continue in Wilderness, and the land remains in public ownership to use and appreciate. In fact, ranchers are the only people allowed to use vehicles and motorized equipment in designated Wilderness; except for emergencies such as law enforcement and wildland fire management.


Myth 11:
“Why impose an oppressive Wilderness designation when multiple-use management-use management is working well and when other protective designations are available for special features, to prevent sale of exchange, and to preserve the open spaces important to the ranchers and the public.”

The Wilderness designation is the highest order of land preservation that can be bestowed on our public lands, and it stands alone in its intent and success. Designating an area as Wilderness is an acknowledgement that the area has a special character which is largely “untouched by man”, has outstanding natural qualities, and characterized the landscape when the settlers moved west. These special places should be honored and respected as an important part of our American legacy and as the birthright of future generations.

Wilderness designation is done by Federal Law which insures the lands are preserved and protected. Other forms of administrative designations, such as exist currently in Dona Ana County, can be changed to allow our lands to be disposed and developed, and part of our natural history could be lost. Wilderness is a proven tool to enact truly long-standing and meaningful designations to protect our nation’s rich natural landscapes.


Conclusion:
The citizens of Grants, New Mexico saw the wisdom of protecting their natural heritage. They supported and lobbied for Congressional establishment of the BLM El Malpais National Conservation Area including the West Malpais and Cebolla Wilderness Areas. As a consequence, the economy of Grants, New Mexico has benefited from visitors to the area, and the federal government has invested more money there to showcase this resource. Grants has distinguished itself nationally as the trail head to a special area.

The Citizens of Dona Ana County in their proposal to establish a National Conservation Area and Wilderness Areas have shown a vision to the future which will benefit the local community for many years to come. Legislation and protection will bring national attention and prestige to these unique landscapes and Dona Ana County, and commemorate the multi-cultural heritage of this part of our beautiful state.”