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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #312553

Title: Vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities of southwest rangeland livestock production to climate change

Author
item Havstad, Kris
item ELIAS, EMILE - New Mexico State University
item STEELE, CAITI - New Mexico State University
item Rango, Albert

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2014
Publication Date: 3/22/2015
Citation: Havstad, K.M., Elias, E., Steele, C., Rango, A. 2015. Vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities of southwest rangeland livestock production to climate change [abstract]. Climate Prediction Applications Science Workshop. March 23-25, 2015. Las Cruces, NM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The rangeland livestock industry across the southwestern US (California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico) consists of highly diverse production operations in these arid and semi-arid environments with low primary productivity. The vulnerabilities of this industry with projected increasing aridity across the region are extensive. However, there are numerous adaptive capacities that can be employed, and these draw upon a multi-century history of coping with extreme climatic events, especially prolonged droughts. In addition, there are opportunities for transformative actions that can better align this economically important industry to the changing ecological capacities of the region.