![]() ![]() For instance, 97 percent of the three national forests in southern and central Utah are open to livestock grazing. While public lands are for everyone, they also allow certain private, commercial uses - livestock grazing being the most widespread. Like many of us, I had a romanticized image of public lands in my mind: wide open spaces bursting with pristine forests, rivers, deserts, and mountains, all meticulously preserved for their value to nature, aesthetic beauty, and outdoor recreation. ![]() Our group gathered in the evenings to talk and compare notes. What we share is a common goal to promote a better balance in terms of public lands that are or are not grazed by livestock. We’re former park rangers, outdoor education guides, lawyers, and engineers, plus a few young outdoor enthusiasts starting careers in environmental science, writing, and non-profits, coming together from all corners of the West. Rather, we’re an eclectic group of volunteers and organizers gathered in southern Utah’s Dixie National Forest for the first training workshop for the Grand Canyon Trust’s newest project: Where Cows Don’t Graze. No, we aren’t a troop of hardcore nature scientists. We crouch down to feel the grasses, overturn stones to search for tiny signs of life, marvel at the vibrant willows growing beside the creek, listen for birdsongs. As soon as we step onto the rich wetland soil, everyone sets off in a different direction to explore. Our group of 16 hikes the short, steep trail down into the ravine. Guest Blog by Grand Canyon Trust Volunteer Jenna Herzog White Mesa Cultural and Conservation Area. ![]()
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