Using Science To Improve The Blm Wild Horse And Burro Program: A Way Forward
by National Research Council /
2013 / English / PDF
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Using Science to Improve the BLM Wild Horse and Burro
Program: A Way Forward
Using Science to Improve the BLM Wild Horse and Burro
Program: A Way Forward reviews the science that underpins
the Bureau of Land Management's oversight of free-ranging horses
and burros on federal public lands in the western United States,
concluding that constructive changes could be implemented. The
Wild Horse and Burro Program has not used scientifically rigorous
methods to estimate the population sizes of horses and burros, to
model the effects of management actions on the animals, or to
assess the availability and use of forage on rangelands.
reviews the science that underpins
the Bureau of Land Management's oversight of free-ranging horses
and burros on federal public lands in the western United States,
concluding that constructive changes could be implemented. The
Wild Horse and Burro Program has not used scientifically rigorous
methods to estimate the population sizes of horses and burros, to
model the effects of management actions on the animals, or to
assess the availability and use of forage on rangelands.
Evidence suggests that horse populations are growing by 15 to 20
percent each year, a level that is unsustainable for maintaining
healthy horse populations as well as healthy ecosystems.
Promising fertility-control methods are available to help limit
this population growth, however. In addition, science-based
methods exist for improving population estimates, predicting the
effects of management practices in order to maintain genetically
diverse, healthy populations, and estimating the productivity of
rangelands. Greater transparency in how science-based methods are
used to inform management decisions may help increase public
confidence in the Wild Horse and Burro Program.
Evidence suggests that horse populations are growing by 15 to 20
percent each year, a level that is unsustainable for maintaining
healthy horse populations as well as healthy ecosystems.
Promising fertility-control methods are available to help limit
this population growth, however. In addition, science-based
methods exist for improving population estimates, predicting the
effects of management practices in order to maintain genetically
diverse, healthy populations, and estimating the productivity of
rangelands. Greater transparency in how science-based methods are
used to inform management decisions may help increase public
confidence in the Wild Horse and Burro Program.