Eyewitness Report: BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Meeting April 2014
Introduction
The BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Meeting held in Sacramento, CA, on April 14-15, 2014, was a critical event for discussing the management of wild horses and burros on public lands. This report provides an eyewitness account of the meeting, highlighting the ongoing challenges and debates surrounding the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) strategies, particularly in relation to fertility control and population management.
Read AWHC' & Return to Freedom's Statement to the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board
Attending these board meetings is often a frustrating experience due to the board's composition, which is heavily influenced by the livestock industry. The BLM continues to focus on research into population suppression methods while neglecting the proven PZP vaccine for fertility control. This inaction has led to a crisis both off and on the range, with over 50,000 wild horses in holding facilities and ongoing issues with livestock grazing in Herd Management Areas (HMAs).
Key Discussions
Board member Rick Danvir emphasized the need for increased budget allocation for field fertility work, stating, “One tenth of one percent of the program budget is focused on field fertility work. It’s every bit as important to start doing some things at a much larger scale now with what we’ve got, then to put it all into research.” Despite these recommendations, the BLM's policy remains focused on removals rather than fertility control.
Tim Harvey insightfully compared the BLM to a large tanker, slow to change direction despite promises of reform. The meeting lacked discussions on drought or reducing livestock in HMAs, which are critical issues affecting wild horse populations.
New Advisory Board Members
The board welcomed three new members: Dr. Sue McDonnell, Fred Woehl, and Dr. Robert Cope. Despite these additions, the board remains predominantly aligned with livestock interests, with five of nine members having ties to the industry.
Program Updates
Greg Shoop provided updates on various initiatives, including the Sage Grouse Conservation Plans and the National Academy of Sciences Report. The BLM's budget for the Wild Horse and Burro Program was discussed, with a focus on research rather than implementing existing fertility control methods.
Public Comments
Advocacy organizations and individuals, including Ginger Kathrens of The Cloud Foundation and representatives from the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign), expressed their concerns over the BLM's failure to implement effective fertility control and the ongoing mismanagement of wild horse populations.
Conclusion
The BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Meeting highlighted the ongoing challenges in managing wild horse populations on public lands. Despite recommendations for increased use of fertility control, the BLM continues to focus on removals and research, leading to frustration among advocates and board members alike.
To read previous eyewitness reports from past BLM Advisory Board meetings, click here.