The Mexican Wolf/Livestock Coexistence Council announces the deadline for Arizona and New Mexico livestock producers to submit applications to receive “payments for wolf presence” in 2014 under the Mexican Wolf/Livestock Coexistence Plan. Applications for wolf presence payments are due by June 1, 2015. Applications are available on the Coexistence Council website: http://www.coexistencecouncil.org/.
The Coexistence Plan, announced in March 2014, is comprised of three core strategies: payments for wolf presence, funding for conflict avoidance measures, and funding for depredation compensation. The June 1 application deadline relates specifically to the “payments for wolf presence” portion of the Coexistence Plan. Applications will be reviewed by the Coexistence Council with payments for wolf presence being based on Mexican wolf data and livestock information from calendar year 2014.
Payments to livestock producers for wolf presence will be based on a formula outlined in the Coexistence Plan that considers a variety of factors, including whether the applicant’s land or grazing lease overlaps a wolf territory or core area (e.g., den or rendezvous area) and the number of wolf pups annually surviving to December 31 in the territory, recognizing that survival of wolf pups is not dependent upon the livestock producer. The formula also considers the number of livestock exposed to wolves and the applicant’s participation in proactive conflict avoidance measures.
The intent of the Coexistence Plan is to recognize that there are real economic consequences to livestock producers coexisting with wolves in Arizona and New Mexico. In addition to incurring losses from livestock depredations, livestock producers can also incur costs from undetected depredations and changes in livestock behavior in response to wolf presence. These factors can further result in a reduction of livestock weight gain, reproductive rates, and meat quality, as well as increased costs tied to managing wolf/livestock interactions. Recognizing these realities, the Coexistence Plan, and specifically the payments for presence program, attempts to create incentives to livestock producers to promote viable ranching operations, self-sustaining Mexican wolf populations and healthy western landscapes.
Last year, the Coexistence Council provided $85,000 in Payments for Presence to 26 livestock operators who applied to the program.
“The payments for presence program provides some financial compensation to offset the additional management costs associated with the presence of wolves,” said Coexistence Council Chairman Sisto Hernandez. “Last year, the pilot program was well received by livestock producers; we hope to broaden the number of livestock producers participating in the program.”
Funding for the Coexistence Plan comes from the Federal Livestock Demonstration Program, which directs grant funds to states through a competitive national application process. In 2014, the program provided the Arizona Game and Fish Department $40,000 for depredation compensation and $80,000 for preventative measures, and the New Mexico Department of Agriculture $20,000 for depredation compensation and $50,000 for preventative measures, the full amounts that each agency had requested. These grant funds are matched by in-kind contributions through the Mexican Wolf Fund and Defenders of Wildlife providing financial assistance to livestock producers to implement proactive measures to reduce conflicts between Mexican wolves and livestock.
Arizona and New Mexico livestock producers, including tribal cooperatives, operating within the area occupied by Mexican wolves are eligible to apply. Application must be received by June 1 and can be mailed to Mexican Wolf/Livestock Coexistence Council, 2105 Osuna Road, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113, or emailed to info@coexistencecouncil.org.
For more information, visit the Coexistence Council website: http://www.coexistencecouncil.org/
http://www.fws.gov/southwest
