Livestock Impacts for Management of Reclaimed Land at Navajo Mine: The Decision-Making Process
Estrada, O J, Grogan, S, and Gadzia, K L. Livestock impacts for management of reclaimed land at Navajo Mine: The decision-making process. United States: N. p., 1997. Web.

Key Takeaways

  • The Navajo Mine Grazing Management Program (GMP), begun in 1991 to establish that livestock grazing on reclaimed land is sustainable, uses holistic management on approximately 2,083 ha of a former surface coal mine to plan for final liability release and return of the land to the Navajo Nation, and to minimize the potential for post-release liability.
  • A Management Team comprised of local, Navajo Nation, and Federal government officials, company staff, technical advisors, and community members contributed to the formation of a holistic goal articulating shared values and a desire for sustainable grazing, with major decisions tested against the goal.
  • At the time of publication (1997), the land had shown resilience to grazing and the animals had generally prospered. Community participation in the GMP and public statements of support by local officials indicate the GMP’s strategy is likely to succeed.

Summary

Livestock grazing is the post-mining use for reclaimed land at Navajo Mine, a large surface coal mine on the Navajo Nation in northwest New Mexico. The Navajo Mine Grazing Management Program (GMP) uses holistic management on approximately 2,083 ha of reclaimed land to plan for final liability release and return of the land to the Navajo Nation, and to minimize the potential for post-release liability. The GMP began in 1991 to establish that livestock grazing on the reclaimed land is sustainable. Assuming that sustainability requires alternatives to conventional land management practices, the GMP created a Management Team consisting of company staff, local, Navajo Nation, and Federal government officials, and technical advisors. Community members contributed to the formation of a holistic goal for the GMP that articulates their values and their desire for sustainable grazing. Major decisions (e.g., artificial insemination, water supply, supplemental feed) are tested against the goal. Biological changes in the land and the grazing animals are monitored daily to provide early feedback to managers, and annually to document the results of grazing. To date, the land has shown resilience to grazing and the animals have generally prospered. Community participation in the GMP and public statements of support by local officials indicate that the GMP`s strategy is likely to succeed.

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