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Strong words... I like it.
Bighorn sheep meet category c. (CPW lists them as a species of greatest conservation need in their SWAP), category d. (the adjacent Rio Grande National Forest listed bighorns as SCC in their forest plan revision that was just completed last year), and three of the four sub-categories of category f. The CPW comment letter makes a case for bighorns meeting all four sub-categories of category f.3. Species in the following categories should be considered:
a. Species with status ranks of G/T3 or S1 or S2 on the NatureServe ranking system. See exhibit 01 for description of NatureServe Conservation Status Ranks.
b. Species listed as threatened or endangered by relevant States, federally recognized Tribes, or Alaska Native Corporations.
c. Species identified by Federal, State, federally recognized Tribes, or Alaska Native Corporations as a high priority for conservation.
d. Species identified as species of conservation concern in adjoining National Forest System plan areas (including plan areas across regional boundaries).
e. Species that have been petitioned for Federal listing and for which a positive “90-day finding” has been made.
f. Species for which the best available scientific information indicates there is local conservation concern about the species' capability to persist over the long-term in the plan area due to:
(1) Significant threats, caused by stressors on and off the plan area, to populations or the ecological conditions they depend upon (habitat). These threats include climate change.
(2) Declining trends in populations or habitat in the plan area.
(3) Restricted ranges (with corresponding narrow endemics, disjunct populations, or species at the edge of their range).
(4) Low population numbers or restricted ecological conditions (habitat) within the plan area.
Done. Thanks for the link and info. You make it too easy @OakIf you want to get involved in something right now, you can submit comments on the draft GMUG Forest Plan Revision. Comments are due by November 12. Just click the "Submit a Comment" button.
The most important thing for bighorn sheep in this draft plan is that they be included on the Species of Conservation Concern list, which is designated by the Regional Forester. They are currently not on the list, despite ample evidence that they qualify and a pointed letter from CPW indicating point by point why they qualify and should be included on the list.
SCC listing is important because without it, the Forest only has to manage for persistence on the forest. The management hurdle for SCC species is viability. If bighorns are not an SCC species, the forest could write off all but one herd of bighorns on the forest and still meet persistence. As an SCC species, the Forest must consider all individuals on the forest as a single population.
The 2012 planning rule lists the following categories for species that should be considered for SCC listing:
Bighorn sheep meet category c. (CPW lists them as a species of greatest conservation need in their SWAP), category d. (the adjacent Rio Grande National Forest listed bighorns as SCC in their forest plan revision that was just completed last year), and three of the four sub-categories of category f. The CPW comment letter makes a case for bighorns meeting all four sub-categories of category f.
The Forest is contending that because bighorns don't meet sub-category (3) of category f. that they can't be listed as SCC. However, the list above is clearly an "or" list, not an "and" list.
So write your comments and ask that bighorn sheep be listed as a species of conservation concern because the best available science indicates there is concern about their ability to persist over the long term due to the risk of disease transmission from authorized domestic sheep grazing on the forest. From the Rangeland Assessment prepared for this plan revision, in 2016 there were 27,331 domestic sheep permitted to graze on the forest.
The largest consumer of domestic wool is the U.S. Military. Companies that source domestic wool for clothing are listed in the Executive Summary of this ASI report and include Duckworth, Ramblers Way, Voormi, Crescent, Kentwool, Wigwam and Nester Hosiery.Where does domestic wool mostly end up? In any particular brands? It’s just unreal that this one little industry could pose such an existential threat to an entire species.
This comment deadline was extended to 11/26.If you want to get involved in something right now, you can submit comments on the draft GMUG Forest Plan Revision. Comments are due by November 12. Just click the "Submit a Comment" button.
The most important thing for bighorn sheep in this draft plan is that they be included on the Species of Conservation Concern list, which is designated by the Regional Forester. They are currently not on the list, despite ample evidence that they qualify and a pointed letter from CPW indicating point by point why they qualify and should be included on the list.
SCC listing is important because without it, the Forest only has to manage for persistence on the forest. The management hurdle for SCC species is viability. If bighorns are not an SCC species, the forest could write off all but one herd of bighorns on the forest and still meet persistence. As an SCC species, the Forest must consider all individuals on the forest as a single population.
The 2012 planning rule lists the following categories for species that should be considered for SCC listing:
Bighorn sheep meet category c. (CPW lists them as a species of greatest conservation need in their SWAP), category d. (the adjacent Rio Grande National Forest listed bighorns as SCC in their forest plan revision that was just completed last year), and three of the four sub-categories of category f. The CPW comment letter makes a case for bighorns meeting all four sub-categories of category f.
The Forest is contending that because bighorns don't meet sub-category (3) of category f. that they can't be listed as SCC. However, the list above is clearly an "or" list, not an "and" list.
So write your comments and ask that bighorn sheep be listed as a species of conservation concern because the best available science indicates there is concern about their ability to persist over the long term due to the risk of disease transmission from authorized domestic sheep grazing on the forest. From the Rangeland Assessment prepared for this plan revision, in 2016 there were 27,331 domestic sheep permitted to graze on the forest.
Paused and will be rolled into the forest plan revision process whenever that begins.Meanwhile in Wyoming.... The USFS, under heavy pressure form the livestock industry and the state department of ag, is looking to undo decades of work and millions of dollars in financial contributions from groups including the WSF an TU to benefit a handful of sleazy woolgrowers who are bent on gaming the system in their favor... again.
Forest Service moves to weaken bighorn protections in Wyo Range - WyoFile
A rule change could open about 124,000 acres of habitat protected by grazing-allotment buyouts to domestic sheep.www.wyofile.com
So write your comments and ask that bighorn sheep be listed as a species of conservation concern because the best available science indicates there is concern about their ability to persist over the long term due to the risk of disease transmission from authorized domestic sheep grazing on the forest.
You could literally say what I said in my quote above and finish the sentence with, “as demonstrated in the November 22, 2021 comment letter on the draft plan from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.”@Oak
I'm trying to craft an intelligent and succinct comment, any points i should try to make?
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I just don't know how you combat that unless you require all sheep/goats to be 100% vaccinated. Even then I bet you never truly reach 100%.
Capture them all and test them. Expensive, time consuming, and made more difficult in terrain more rugged and remote than Custer State Park.