In most of the western United States, a huge amount of federal public land is used to graze animals, mostly cows. The individuals and entities raising these animals for eventual food pay almost nothing for the right to use federal lands this way. In April of 2014, this issue gained considerable national attention when the BLM tried to collect from Nevada rancher, Cliven Bundy, who had not even been paying the minimal fees, and a standoff ensued.
But for the most part, this issue gets little attention. Grazing has destroyed much land in the West. Additionally, animal agriculture is a major contributor to global climate change according to the United Nations and other experts. Animals raised on grasslands are even worse than those raised in factory farms because they grow slower and emit more methane.
In this article, I argue that BLM has the authority under existing law to end the practice of using federal public lands for grazing. Moreover, it has the obligation to do so given animal agriculture's considerable contribution to global climate change, which threatens the survival of the planet.
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