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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #417831
Research Project: Knowledge Systems and Tools to Increase the Resilience and Sustainablity of Western Rangeland Agriculture

Location: Range Management Research

Title: Socio-environmental influences on land turnover in US public rangelands

Author
item LU, LUCI - New Mexico State University
item SKAGGS, RHONDA - New Mexico State University
item Slaughter, Amalia - Amy
item Bestelmeyer, Brandon

Submitted to: Science and Sustainability Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2024
Publication Date: 9/11/2024
Citation: Lu, L., Skaggs, R., Slaughter, A.L., Bestelmeyer, B.T. 2024. Socio-environmental influences on land turnover in US public rangelands. Science and Sustainability Conference Proceedings. Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This study investigates the socio-environmental factors influencing the frequency of changes in permit holders for public grazing lands in the United States, also known as land turnover rates. In the US, ranchers obtain permits from the Bureau of Land Management to graze livestock on designated public land areas called allotments. The frequency of changes in permit holders for these allotments varies across different regions and over time. Allotments with frequent changes in permit holders are more likely to be managed by short-term users rather than multi-generational ranching families, and therefore may not have longer-term land management plans in place compared to the latter. Therefore, understanding the patterns and complex drivers of land turnover plays a critical role in developing long-term sustainable practices for managing public grazing lands. To analyze the influence of environmental and social factors on turnover frequency, we combined archival land tenure data from the Bureau of Land Management with open-access satellite time series. We retrieved data on changes in permit holders for over 600 allotments managed by the Bureau of Land Management Las Cruces office, dating back to 1938. We used classification and regression tree analysis to examine the relevance of socio-environmental factors in predicting changes in permit holders at the allotment level. These factors included natural resource endowments, climatic variability, conservation policies, infrastructure expansion, extractive and recreational activities, and proximity to borders. This study provides data-driven policy recommendations to promote sustainable land management in rangeland socio-environmental systems.