Corrective Measures Urgently Needed
The great biodiversity of plant and animal species has not been adequately documented and several, such as the badger, are on the Rare or Endangered species list. There should be a joint cooperative program among wildlife, environmental, government and academic interests to gather the missing ecosystem information. Then to incorporate biodiversity and endangered species concerns into planning management and resource use on the Gilpin. Unless such a cooperative program is achieved within the next few years, degradation to the native grasslands and associated wildlife species and their habitats will continue to worsen. Within the next decade the ecologically unique Gilpin could become another weed-infested pasture devoid of the great diversity of plant and animal species and habitat types that originally made it an ecological wonder.
.Economic & Non-Economic Values
Government revenue from livestock grazing is insignificant, $3,015.47 in 04 and revenue circulating in the community from a part time ranch operation is likewise insignificant and cannot be used as a rationale for the damage done by cows, especially when you factor in infrastructure costs and maintenance.
The consumptive and non-consumptive returns from eco-tourism and controlled wildlife harvests far exceed the meager revenue this part time cow operator generates.
What the Public, Societies and Politicians Can Do To Ensure Proper Management of the Gilpin Grasslands
Public individuals and their Naturalist, Environmental and Wildlife Societies should:
- Pressure the provincial government and natural resource agents
to correct the livestock grazing problem and manage the Gilpin for all its diverse values, and
- Encourage academic centers to conduct
studies to document and periodically monitor all ecosystem components and the effect of livestock and wildlife grazing on the grasslands
- Public/Government/Academic field trips and Knowledge Transfer meetings should be held on the Gilpin and at nearby communities to make the public resource managers and politicians better informed on all aspects of the land-use dilemma and to develop superior management plans and government legislation in the interests of all Gilpin’s consumptive and non-consumptive values.
