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The Relationship Between the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 and Utilitarianism
This paper aims to explore the connection between utilitarianism and the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Predominately, utilitarianism can be defined as a philosophy that requires choosing the most ethical decision based on what will produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people (Nathanson N.D). Although similar to classical utilitarianism, environmental utilitarianism specifies that land should be used to maximal public benefit. American forester and politician, Gifford Pinchot, is considered the father of conservation-based utilitarianism. Curt Meine describes environmental utilitarianism by stating, “The guiding principle of utilitarian conservation was to manage resources so as to produce commodities and services ‘for the greatest good of the greatest number for the longest time’” (Meine 2010). Utilitarianism and conservation-based utilitarianism share the combined purpose of serving the maximum amount of people for the largest amount of time.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) follows a multiple-use mandate that requires the public land to be managed for a variety of uses (BLM 2018b). These uses include, “…energy development, livestock grazing, recreation, and timber harvesting while (also) ensuring natural, cultural, and historic resources…” (BLM 2018b). All of these activities can benefit the public by maximizing the opportunities for commercial, conservation, and recreational activities (BLM 2018b). The BLM claims that the activities conducted on the public land help to support energy development, new job, grazing, recreation, and timber harvesting (BLM 2018b). Considering that all the projects conducted by the BLM are created with the intention of benefiting the American public, the agency must be utilitarian.
The BLM established the Wild Horse and Burro Program as a mechanism to implement the Wild-Free Roaming Horses and Burro Act (BLM 2018). The BLM explains Congress’ intent for the law by stating, “Broadly, the law declares wild horses and burros to be ‘living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West’ and stipulates that the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service have the responsibility to manage and protect herds in their respective jurisdictions within areas where wild horses and burros were found roaming in 1971” (BLM 2018a). Congress’ decision to delegate the responsibility to the BLM is important because the bureau utilizes a utilitarian method of management. The BLM’s mission statement reads, “The Bureau of Land Management’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations” (BLM 2018b). Since the BLM aims to provide benefits to the greatest number of people for the longest amount of time, it is environmentally utilitarian.
In particular, the utilitarian principles of the BLM encompass the Wild Horse and Burro Program. The wild horse and burro populations are managed not only for the health of the animals but also because overpopulation could cause major problems for the health and quality of the environment. The BLM manages 247.3 million acres of public land, the majority of this land existing in the western portion of the United States (Bui & Sanger-Katz 2016). This is important since nearly all the wild horses and burros are in the American West. The western rangelands are put in serious danger by overgrazing from uncontrolled horse and burro populations. For instance, the spread of invasive species, water contamination, destruction of native species, and desertification follow unchecked horse and burro population growth (Wildhorserange 2016). Without monitoring, the rangelands could slowly be destroyed. Preserving the native ecosystem is utilitarian since a healthy environment will benefit all Americans for generations to come. This is the main justification of the Wild Horse and Burro Program.
Desertification can be a consequence of consistent overgrazing and soil compaction, causing the ground to dry out. The United Nations defines desertification as “degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas. It is caused primarily by human actives and climate variations” (United Nations 2018). Overgrazing is considered one of the biggest contributors to desertification. As bodies of water on the rangeland dries up, vegetation and wildlife can no longer survive. Decreased water supply causes burro and horse populations to concentrate around the limited water resources (Wildhorserange 2016). This amplifies the negative consequences of their grazing patterns which then further increases the process of desertification. A destructive cycle is created which can increase the occurrence of wildfires and drought. This cycle hurts both wild horse and burro populations as well as humans (Wildhorserange 2016). Managing the wild populations is beneficial to all Americans, thus Wild Horse and Burro Program must be utilitarian.
Overpopulation of these wild animals is due to a lack of natural predators and no hunting permits. With no natural predators and if left unchecked, horse and burro populations can increase rapidly. Based on data from the BLM, “…herds can increase at a rate of up to 20 percent annually, doubling in size in just 4 to 5 years, if not appropriately managed” (BLM 2018a). Thus amplifying their negative effects on native habitats and wildlife. The horse and burro population can be controlled by placing them in Herd Management Areas. These horses can then further be managed through sterilization and adoption (Wildhorserange 2016). If the wild populations are left unchecked, the rangelands can experience severe damage. This would contradict the BLM’s utilitarian mission statement by failing to serve the public.
Due to the fact that Americans culturally consider horses pets, they cannot be treated in the same manner as other invasive species. However, they are an invasive species. As a nonnative species, they threaten the health of indigenous species. For instance, “Areas with an overabundance of horses and burros have fewer plant species, lower occurrence of native grasses, higher presence of invasive species, and less vegetative cover” (Wildhorserange 2016). One species that is highly susceptible to changes in the environment is the Greater Sage-Grouse. The nest survival of the sage-grouse is dependent on tall grasses. As the horse and burro population alters the native vegetation composition, the nesting habits of the sage-grouse are put in danger. Importantly, 30 percent of sage-grouse habitats overlap the BLM horse and burro rangelands (Wildhorserange 2016). The World Wildlife Fund has declared the sage-grouse as near threatened due to loss of habitat from farming and overgrazing (World Wildlife Fund N.D). Another organism that is experiencing instability due to foraging by wild horses and burros is the ant. Ants are soil aerators and decomposers, making them extremely important to the health of the western landscape (Wildhorserange 2016). In a study by Beever and Herrick, it was found that there was a “2.2-8.4 times greater abundance of ant mounds and 3.0-15.4 times lower penetration resistance in soil surfaces at horse-removed sites” (Beever & Herrick 2006). This is an example of how overpopulation by horses and burros can harm the ecosystem as a whole. Native species are important because they “…are equipped to live with the local climate, soil types, and animals. Plants and animals that have evolved together depend upon each other for survival” (York County Conservation District N.D). Biodiversity is lost when native species are replaced with invasive species. Over time, loss of biodiversity can mean that the ecosystem is no longer able to provide society the services and products that are crucial for human health. For instance, lower biodiversity means reduced access to fresh water, food, and fuel sources (World Health Organization 2012). This means that in order to provide long-term benefits to the American public, the BLM needs to manage the invasive species population on their public lands. To satisfy the utilitarian principles in their mission statement, the BLM must control the horse and burro population.
The BLM upholds the moral and ethical responsibilities of environmental utilitarianism. The Wild Horse and Burro Program allows the bureau to fulfill their promise to the American public as well as the environment. Although the Wild Horse and Burro Program is controversial, it achieves Gifford Pinchot’s definition of utilitarianism by serving the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
References
Beever & Herrick, E. J. 2006. Effects of Feral Horses in Great Basin Landscapes on Soils and Ants: Direct and Indirect Mechanisms https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222580842
Bui & Sanger-Katz, Q.M. 2016. Why the government Owns so Much Land in the West https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/06/upshot/why-the-government-owns-so-much-land-in-the-west.html
Bureau of Land Management. (a) 2018 Programs: Wild Horse and Burro: About the Program. https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/about-the-program
——— (b) 2018. About: Our Mission. https://www.blm.gov/about/our-mission
Meine, C. D. 2010. Aldo Leopold: His Life and Work.
Nathanson, S. N.D. Act and Rule Utilitarianism. https://www.iep.utm.edu/util-a-r/
Pinchot, G. 1907. The Conservation of Natural Resources.
United Nations. 2018. World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. http://www.un.org/en/events/desertificationday/
Wildhorserange. 2016. National Horse & Burro Rangeland Management Coalition. http://www.wildhorserange.org/uploads/2/6/0/7/26070410/nhbrmc_combinedfactsheets-may.16.pdf
Word Health Organization. 2012. Biodiversity https://www.who.int/globalchange/ecosystems/biodiversity/en/
World Wildlife Fund. N.D. Greater Sage-Grouse https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/greater-sage-grouse
York County Conservation District. N.D. Why Are Native Plants so Important? http://www.yorkccd.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Why-Are-Native-Plants-Important.pdf
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