WH&B Radio: Jonathan Ratner of Western Watersheds Project

Our guest is JONATHAN RATNER, Western Watersheds Project’s Director for Wyoming, Utah and Colorado.  Jonathan joined WWP after a stint with the Forest Service in which he documented severe degradation caused by livestock grazing.  When his reports were consigned to the ‘round file’ by the Forest Service, he sought out assistance from various area conservation organizations to deal with the problems, all of which declined to help.  In his search for assistance farther afield he came across Western Watersheds Project and shortly thereafter started WWP’s Wyoming Office.

Jonathan will talk about public lands ranching, the most widespread commercial use of public lands in the United States.  Ranching is one of the primary causes of native species endangerment in the American West; it is also the most significant cause of non-point source water pollution and desertification.

Tonight's show is hosted by Debbie Coffey, V.P. and Dir. of Wild Horse Affairs for Wild Horse Freedom Federation.