The Impacts of Livestock Grazing in the Sonoran Desert: a Literature Review and Synthesis

Abstract

Scientific understanding of livestock grazing impacts and management strategies in the Sonoran Desert is limited and poorly documented compared to more productive rangelands. Existing literature confirms that grazing can negatively affect soils, biological soil crusts, plant communities, and wildlife—particularly species like bighorn sheep—but lacks sufficient data to define safe grazing thresholds or assess the effectiveness of different strategies. Most current grazing approaches are based on models developed for more productive ecosystems and are not well-suited to the Sonoran Desert’s unique ecological dynamics. A literature review conducted by The Nature Conservancy for the Bureau of Land Management found that no existing grazing system, including continuous or specialized methods, is fully appropriate for this arid region. The review highlights the need for ecosystem-specific research and management strategies that consider local climate, vegetation, and social factors, and concludes that continuous year-round grazing is not a viable option for public lands in the Sonoran Desert.

Citation

Hall, J.A., S. Weinstein, and C.L. McIntyre. 2005. The Impacts of Livestock Grazing in the Sonoran Desert: A Literature Review and Synthesis. The Nature Conservancy in Arizona, Tucson.