Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative

Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative

The Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) is a national and state driven effort led by a coalition of producer and resource management organizations. The purpose of GLCI is to get more trained NRCS personnel to deliver the best, applied grazing land science to producers and managers on private grazing lands. The use of this technical assistance is voluntary and at the request of private grazing-land owners and managers.

On the national level, the GLCI steering committee is a confederation of national organizations focused on carrying out actions needed to increase NRCS technical assistance on privately owned grazing lands. This also includes those operations where private lands are commingled with federal, state, and tribal lands. The original founding organizations include:

• American Farm Bureau Federation
• American Forage and Grassland Council
• American Sheep Industry
• Dairy Industry
• National Association of Conservation Districts
• National Cattlemen's Beef Association
• National Farmer's Union
• Society for Range Management
• Soil and Water Conservation Society

The GLCI through national and state steering committees seeks to:

• Increase the number of trained grazing land conservationists in NRCS.
• Strengthen partnerships at national and state levels.
• Promote voluntary actions for resource management.
• Encourage diversification to achieve multiple benefits through a sound grazing land management planning process.
• Emphasize training and education.
• Increase public awareness on the societal benefits of well-managed private grazing lands.

Louisiana Grazing Land Conservation Coalition

The Louisiana Grazing Land Conservation Coalition, in partnership with the national GLCI steering committee, seeks to bring together a wide variety of partners from across the state to increase and strengthen the delivery of NRCS technical assistance to producers with private grazing lands.

Organizations currently involved as state coalition members include:

• Louisiana Cattlemen's Association
• Louisiana Farm Bureau
• Society for Range Management
• Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts
• Louisiana Forage and Grassland Council
• Resource Conservation & Development
• Louisiana Forestry Association
• Resource Advisors:
  • LSU Ag Center
  • NRCS

There are over 4 million acres of grazing land in Louisiana. The environmental and economic benefits derived from grazing lands make them important to everyone in Louisiana. These lands provide forage for livestock production, habitat for wildlife, recreational opportunities, and jobs in agriculture and other related industries. These lands also provide a watershed for drinking water used in both rural and urban areas.

Grazing lands are often located in areas that are more susceptible to damage from misuse. Thus it is important that these lands be managed in a sustainable manner. Many people and groups understand how grazing lands contribute to a healthy environment and economy and they are taking action to ensure that grazing lands receive the important attention they need. The benefits of healthy grazing lands include improved water quality, increased forage production for livestock, reduced soil erosion, improved wildlife habitat, and increased economic sustainability.

Most private grazing-land owners are eager to voluntarily improve their lands to enhance profitability and protect the environment. They believe the best way to protect their private property rights is to take positive action and practice good conservation on their lands.

The Louisiana Grazing Lands Conservation Coalition fosters public support at the local, state, and national levels for technical assistance through activities such as grazing/pasture walk groups, farm demonstrations, workshops, tours, and other activities involving producer organizations, individual producers, business and environmental groups, and state and federal legislators.

For additional information, please contact Johanna Pate at Johanna.pate@la.usda.gov or 318-473-7808. To learn more about the Louisiana Grazing Lands Conservation Coalition and GLCI, go to www.lagrazinglands.com.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment.