To: Mounted search and rescue <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [MSAR] WEEDS, SEEDS and GOOD DEEDS!
Date: Sun, 08 Jan 2006 09:56:47 -0800
This is a subject about which many horse folk feel passionate! But
here's the deal- it is already a concern of those who legislate. Those
lobbying against livestock in state and federal forests are just using
it as one more tool to keep us out. Do we impact the local flora and
fauna? YOU BET WE DO. Trying to deny that fact is going to make us look
like a bunch of yahoo's. What we need to do is our own studies that show
that that impact is either mitigatable (we can fix it without diapers
and/or weed free seed) or that it is beneficial rather than detrimental.
Backcountry Horseman are lobbying in our favor and could use everyone's
support (if you dont' already belong- join). The BIG issue here is that
almost all of us buy our hay from a different area/region than where we
ride. THAT is the problem. The weeds that are in that hay are not
indigenous/native to the areas where we ride. Indigenous weeds are not
now, and have never been, a concern. Deer, bear, birds- you name it, eat
from the same region they live in so the seeds they drop are from native
weeds. The exception to this that is always given is migratory birds.
Well their migration routes are so established that the seeds they carry
are now indigenous to the areas they fly over and to.
Do we have a choice? Not really. It is the law in many places already.
We can only do our best to comply and to help fund those who are
fighting for our freedoms in the law making chambers.
The real concern is what if it IS established that livestock are
contributing to the decline of healthy forests due to the introduction
of non-native weeds? I for one will do my best to feed weed free seed
and take whatever other steps are necessary to reduce our impact. I want
healthy forests because I plan to ride there and I plan on having my
great great grandkids be able to ride in that same forest. We are part
of a much larger web of life that is already being negatively impacted
from all sides by humans. I will do whatever I can to help keep it
intact- as long as the actions are based on fact and science not hysteria.