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Supplying ecosystem services on US rangelands

Published Article

United States

Publication date: September 4, 2023

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This study assesses how accelerating climate, land‑use, and societal pressures may reshape ecosystem services on US rangelands. Four future scenarios highlight trade‑offs between sustaining beef cattle production, expanding renewable energy, and transforming rural communities, emphasizing the need for collaborative, cross‑sector conservation planning.

Subject Tags

  • Agriculture
  • Conservation Planning

Abstract

Rangelands comprise 40% of the conterminous United States and they supply essential ecosystem services to society. A scenario assessment was conducted to determine how accelerating biophysical and societal drivers may modify their future availability. Four scenarios emerged: two may maintain rural communities by sustaining the prevailing ecosystem service of beef cattle production, and two may transform rural communities through expansion of renewable energy technologies and infusion of external capital from amenity land sales. Collaborative organizations representing diverse societal sectors may most effectively identify and manage trade-offs among ecosystem service availability, and equitably prioritize food and energy security, environmental quality and cultural identity.

Citation

Briske, D. D., Archer, S. R., Burchfield, E., Burnidge, W., Derner, J. D., Gosnell, H., ... & Stackhouse-Lawson, K. R. (2023). Supplying ecosystem services on US rangelands. Nature Sustainability, 6(12), 1524-1532.

TNC Authors