What makes a landscape work? Research Extracts Lynn Huntsinger, UCB

Transcription

1 What makes a landscape work? Research Extracts Lynn Huntsinger, UCB

2 Definition of working landscape Socioeconomic research Ecological research Open space?

3 What is a working landscape? Combines commodity production with ecosystem service production Combines production of market and nonmarket goods Ideally this production is synergistic

4 Socioeconomics of working landscapes Private lands are important and supported by enterprises like ranching and forestry Ranchers and timber owners take advantage of PES (Ferranto et al. 2011) Ranchers are interested in marketing ecosystem services (Cheatum et al. 2011), diversified income streams (Standiford and Howitt 1990 and 1991) Because they are so highly motivated by the lifestyle and a sense of stewardship, ranchers subsidize management of private and public lands (Forero and Barry 2012, Sulak 2004).

5 Landowner benefits are shared with the public Rancher ecosystem services Public ecosystem services Natural beauty Natural beauty Living on property Existence and viewshed Wildlife and recreation Wildlife and recreation Legacy value: heirs Production value Legacy value: future generations Local ranch products (Huntsinger et al. 2010)

6 Amenity and production values are a powerful force for conservation when combined Amenity values as a motive reach a saturation point: can be satisfied with a property of a few hectares (Campos et al. 2009). Livestock production income increases linearly with property size. working landscapes combines 2 income streams to help sustain larger areas (Huntsinger et al. 2010) + Grazing income Property size Amenity values Property size

7 Ecological research Maintaining intact ranches has benefits at multiple scales: Fragmentation is a problem (Hobbs 2008; Merenlender et al. 2009) Agriculture benefits from rangelands (Kremen 2011) Wildlife can benefit from ranch activities (Richmond 2010, Didonato 2007) Grazing can be an important tool for vegetation management (Barry 2005) Producers are ecosystem engineers, they are the active managers creating externalities that can be beneficial (Ferranto et al in press, Jones et al 1994).

8 Species and habitats can benefit from grazing to alter grassland structure, as well as rancher constructed stockponds and pipelines Western burrowing owl (CCWD 2005). Stephens kangaroo rats (Kelt et al 2005; USFWS 1997) Goldfields (Barry 2005) Some insects/beetles (Dennis et al 1997) Western pond turtle (CCWD 2005). Butterflies (Weiss, 1999) Vernal pools (Marty 2005, Pyke and Marty 2005) Stockponds (Didonato 2007) Native grasses (Suding 2011)

9 Small wetlands in Sierran foothills and California black rail Socioeconomic/landscape scale: persistence of ranching and use of water Ecological/pasture scale: long vs. short term effects of grazing exclusion or management options

10 open space vs. working landscape Hands off management is increasingly untenable climate change, fire hazard, invasives (Millar, 2007). Ignores and discards the value of the genuine interest in stewardship by owners, and the opportunities for synergy. Conservation planning needs to include planning for the working aspect

11 Working landscape loss feedback loop Working ranch Is lost Loss of forage base Loss of infrastructure Loss of community Costs to farm and Pressure to sell increase Feedback loop: loss of each individual ranch leads to landscape change Loss of critical mass of ranchers makes ranching untenable. Maintaining viable agriculture is usually not considered in HCP s, etc. (Sulak and Huntsinger 2007; Liffmann 2000)

12 Working landscape support feedback loop hypothesis Ranch Sustainability, landscape stability Management for long term Multiple generations Incentives for ES Finding synergies Recognition for stewardship Economic returns Feedback loop: long term outlook supports investment in management, community support and economic returns, along with recognition of peers and incentives, reinforces sustainability and sense of stewardship.

13 Keeping our Landscapes Working- Research & Extension Opportunities Sheila Barry Natural Resource/ Livestock Advisor University of California Cooperative Extension

14 What is the most significant obstacle to keeping our landscapes working?

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18 Responses from 25 Advisors and Specialists

19 Economics Scale- Access to land resources Alternative land uses - Subdivision, Ag, Tourism Cost- Water, Feed, Taxes, Regulations Markets- Access to niche markets Lack/ Loss of infrastructure

20 Regulations Water Quality Air Quality Endangered Species OSHA Workmen s Comp Timber Harvest Plans CEQA/ NEPA Historic Preservation Archeology Coastal Commission Army Corp USFWS Regional Boards Fish and Game USDA Planning Departments

21 Regulatory Issues Compliance cost Lack of information Conflict Loss of infrastructure Loss of use

22 Succession Lack of planning Lack of interest (in the work & the fight) Lack of knowledge Lack of income

23 Production Genetic opportunities lost to market demands Loss of tools due to regulations Loss of use due to regulations

24 What sort of research/ extension should we be doing to overcome these obstacles?

25 Economics Business Plans Cost models Cost-Benefit Evaluate Pretty Ecosystem service values Supply chain research New product potential Social marketing Infrastructure development

26 What makes a working landscape work?

27 The Steward

28 Our challenge is to develop/ identify a tool(s) that integrate of human actions and environmental outcomes.

29 What tools do we have that help us understand how external pressures impact producers and how their impacts influence biological outcomes?

30 How do landowners/stewards respond to external pressures (markets, policy, community dynamics) at the local, state and national scale?

31 How do their decisions impact biological/ environmental outcomes?

32 Multi-Agent Simulation Model Distributed Artificial Intelligence

33 Example: Cormas - Natural Resource Management with Multi-Agents Sylvopast Model Forest / pasture management for fire prevention in Mediterranean forests Agents: sheep producer forester Economics Biological processes (production, succession, fire behavior)

34 Other ideas Management templates Innovative partnerships Research to support regulations Targeted outreach Programs for new landowners Succession planning assistance Training in the field for regulators and students