Grassbanking: A Collaborative Approach to Rangeland Management. NTRES 314 Policy Brief April 26, 2004

Transcription

1 Grassbanking: A Collaborative Approach to Rangeland Management NTRES 314 Policy Brief April 26, 2004 Chris Baxter Sarah Bellos Gosia Bereziewicz Allie Beyer Shannon Brescher

2 Environmental Problems Vegetative Impacts Grazing on native grasses Decreases species diversity and abundance Increases exotic species Increases weeds and herbicide use Fire suppression Changing grassland structure Riparian zones Streambank erosion Decreased water quality and quantity

3 Environmental Problems Impacts of subdivision Most productive range lands often under greatest pressure from urban sprawl Habitat loss and fragmentation Species Loss Loss of open space Preservation of water and wildlife quality Aesthetic value

4 Socio-economic Problems Increased social opposition to ranching Due to subsidy system, environmental problems Increased regulation heightens economic pressure Socio-economic pressure and environmental problems compromise long term viability Sustainability depends on healthy grassland and improved forage production How can ranchers address these problems?

5 Ranchers Perceived Options to Pressure Liquidate or reduce livestock Conduct prescribed forest fires Other conservation and restoration measures Lack of capital Lack of Knowledge Lack of Technology

6 Ranchers Perceived Options to Subdivide and Sell Pressure Leads to decreased opens space and vanishing rural landscape how can livestock grazing in the West operate sustainably?

7 Origins & Agencies Homestead Act 1862 Forest Service (FS) Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) National Park Service (NPS) Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

8 Top Down Governance Wild Life Act (1964) Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act (1964) National Environmental Environmental Policy Act (1970) Endangered Species Act (1978) Public Rangeland Improvement Act (1978)

9 Governance Problems Lack of communication between agencies Distinct missions and responsibilities Federal, State and Local Mandates

10 NRDC v. Morton Suit forced the BLM to conduct EIS and EA before reissuing leases to ranchers Current lease term is 10 years

11 Grassbanking Voluntary program Partnerships between different actors Ranchers, Public Land Managers, Private Foundations, NGOs, Scientists, Environmentalists, Academic Institutions Exchange of conservation easements and environmental measures for temporary grazing land Ecological rehabilitation without economic loss

12 The Formation of a Grassbank Partnerships amongst ranchers OR Partnerships between ranchers and nonprofit organizations Nature Conservancy Overseen by federal/state/regional infrastructure, academic institutions Purchase/set aside land specifically to use as a grassbank Establish regular meetings to foster dialogue between actors

13 Types of Land Both private and public land can be used Public land must be evaluated through an EA or EIS under NEPA Compliance with federal, state, regional regulations Grazing practices Adherence to wildlife and habitat protection legislation Grassbank land must be of high quality and able to sustain livestock

14 The Cost of Grassbanking Landowners must assist in paying Conservation and restoration projects Administrative costs Capital cost of land, if purchased for a grassbank Foundation grants and government funds

15 How Does Land Exchange Work? Conservation easements and environmental program implementation for temporary grazing land (Value of land being subdivided and developed)-(value of grazing land) = AUM Exchange can last from one month to several years

16 Grazing Land Rehabilitation Ecological Restoration Protecting Open Space Native Habitat Rehabilitation (removal of invasive species) Improving Water Quality (Stream Stabilization) Woodland Thinning Prescribed Burns

17 Political Implications Reduces bureaucratic delays Brings together traditionally conflicting key players Focus on voluntary collaboration Compromise: Conservation and economic stability Grazing control and right of private land usage

18 Case Study: Malpai Borderlands Project Malpai Borderlands covers over 1 million acres arid land between Arizona and New Mexico 57% private lands, 20% state land trusts, 11 % National Forest, 7% BLM 1994 drought limited forage and available land Ranchers faced with selling off their herds Malpai Borderlands Group formed as collaboration between the ranchers

19 Case Study: Malpai Borderlands Project NGOs exchanged access to the Animas Foundation s ranch for an easement Three to five year agreements Conservation plans developed on participants ranches Partnerships: Nature Conservancy NRCS The Animas Foundation US Forest Service BLM FWS Arizona State Land Office U Arizona Arizona Game and Fish NM State Land Office U New Mexico New Mexico State U NM of Game and Fish Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts

20 Case Study: Malpai Borderlands Project Critical role of private sector Nature Conservancy and Animas Foundation provided land Collaboration across jurisdictions and agency mandates Providing expertise and regulatory support Public-private collaboration created synergy Resource management can perhaps be a win-winwin situation

21 Grassbanking Analysis Redefining the problem as multi-faceted Epoch 1 Top down regulation Contentious relationship Epoch III Devolution of control to local level Use of collaboration Use of tools such as conservation easements and information-rich landscape management

22 Grassbanking Analysis Encourages stakeholders to utilize, trade and save the value of the grasslands by redefining property rights Coordination across a variety of institutions Role of NGOs, extension, and government agencies Facilitate emergence of local governance Provide expertise Contains elements for successful community based resource management

23 Can it be successful? Ecological protection Strengths Prevents subdivision Allows for restoration of land Farmers learn about sustainable grazing techniques Economic incentives for sustainable grazing Politically appealing

24 Can it be successful? Criticisms Voluntary Many ranchers will not participate No guarantee of restoration even when do participate No such thing as sustainable grazing? Could suffer from Tragedy of the Commons Is subdivision that large of a problem?

25 Alternatives/Complements Eliminate ranching from public lands Unlikely Reduce number of cattle on land Purchase areas for strict preservation Corridors, buffers, and sensitive ecological areas Using only private land for grassbanks

26 Conclusion Complexity of problem makes solution difficult Grassbanking provides collaborative forum for diverse stakeholders Flexible solutions adapted to local context can prove successful Need to involve more ranchers Best in combination with other policies

27 Thank You! Screen image copyrighted Dixon Photography, 2003