WHOA - The Final Blow?

Has Wild Horse Organized Assistance (WHOA) Director Dawn Lappin just delivered the final blow to Americas remaining herds?

On August 2, 2007, the Interior Board of Land Appeals, 172 IBLA 128 ruled that there is nothing in the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act that prohibits the BLM from augmenting non-self sustaining herds to prevent inbreeding.

Based on BLM provided studies, Administrative Law Judge, T. Britt Price declared that "only 50 breeding animals are necessary for genetic diversity" and goes on to say, "Appellant seemingly argues that the need to augment the herd by introducing breeding mares demonstrates that the horses of the Red Rock HMA cannot be considered either healthy or self-sustaining under the new AML" (Allowable Management Level for the Red Rock wild horses was established in 2004 at a range between 16-27).

The Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) oversees administrative law for the Department of the Interior and is available at no cost to anyone who wishes to appeal a decision by public land managers. The catch? It is up to you to provide a preponderance of evidence that clearly shows managers erred in their decisions.

Judge Price, who issued the decision stated,"Neither the Act nor regulations uses "uniqueness" as a standard in managing wild horse and burro populations"

In case you are wondering what the Appeal was about, here are the main contentions of Lappin's argument to the Court;

• that "as published in the Pierson Report, the BLM was to fully pursue and implement actions to reduce herds within Nevada's ephemeral ranges in the Mojave Desert,"
• that "the ephemeral range cannot support sustained use by the Red Rock herd, which has suffered because of prolonged severe drought,"
• that "genetic thresholds cannot be maintained at the AML selected, and that herd augmentation is 'contrary to provisions of the ACT that limits BLM's discretion to alter the Red Rock Wild Horse Herd's uniqueness or natural balance", and that
• "the development and allocation of water constitutes an action that is 'contrary to the role and responsibilities of the Nevada State Water Engineer'."

Director Lappin closed her argument with, "WHOA therefore contends that BLM should have established a zero AML for the wild horses of the Red Rock HMA."

Is she for real with a name like Wild Horse Organized Assistance?

While WHOA charged in to court aiming to set a national policy regarding the genetic viability of our herds (of which she seemed to be shooting for zero), she came to the fight empty handed and presented nothing to support or counter the Department of the Interior's statistical reams or crack legal teams.

BLM has now been given legal license to give even more forage to livestock and big game because all they have to do is add a horse, any horse from any where, and PRESTO! they are a now an "American Mustang".

To learn more about the crisis of genetic diversity and future viability now facing many of Americas wild horse and burro herds, go to American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign

Photo taken from BLM Internet Adoption Website www.blm.gov