Communication and Conservation

Post by Clemson student Hannah Jellema

What comes to mind when you think of ranching? Automatically, I think of cows, horses, and cowboys with lassos. What doesn’t come to mind are drones, wildlife habitat, and plant identification. If someone were to survey the United States population, I think the majority of people would also fail to identify these other aspects of modern ranching. Before witnessing rangeland management firsthand, I too had no understanding of the subset of skills required to successfully run a ranch. For example, modern ranchers must be able to identify pest plants, be prepared to assist animals in escaping natural disasters such as fire and flood, deal with wildlife (whether they are predators or beneficial species), and incorporate information fed to them by extension agents into their daily practices. Since the establishment of the industry, it has been necessary for ranchers to be well versed in best-use land management practices. However today, due to human activities around the globe, it is also necessary for ranchers to predict future best-use practices, as climate conditions continue to change and deviate from historical trends.

Attending the Grassland Symposium hosted by the Nature Conservancy had a profound influence on my view of the importance of communication in conservation. Attendees and presenters at the meeting encompassed a wide variety of individuals, including ranchers, tech companies, students, farmers, conservation groups, and even motivated community groups looking to manage their land for future generations. During the symposium, I was reminded of topics I had previously been exposed to through my education in environmental and natural resources at Clemson, including the effects of climate change on land use and the use of topographical mapping to predict the presence of organic carbon in soil. However, I was also introduced to new ideas such as the use of drones as a non-invasive method of land management, both by private landowners and conservation groups. The pairing of drones with GIS technology creates a powerful tool that could be of great use to anyone interested in land management. I also found it interesting to be reminded that both ranchers and conservationists share a common enemy in invasive weeds, and that frequently there is overlap between forage that is beneficial for wildlife and domestic animals. After the symposium we were given the opportunity to see an example of ranchers and conservationists cooperating and using an invasive species to reach both of their goals by directing cattle to feed on non-native wheatgrass instead of native grassland species. I was reminded throughout the day of the importance of communication between parties, and of how problems (such as non-native wheatgrass) can be turned into solutions beneficial to all stakeholders through collaboration.

I think our time in the field with Dr. Aguerre had the most impact educationally, simply because it allowed me to better understand the amount of research and work that goes into managing and feeding cattle. It blew my mind to discover that not only do ranchers frequently grow their own hay, but that there are different hay types (at different costs) with various traits better suited for certain environments and cattle types. For example, cattle in South Carolina have different energy requirements than cattle in Montana due to the amount of energy required to survive Montanian winters. In addition to type of hay, the forage quality available on a rancher’s rangeland has an impact on cattle health. The idea of focusing on native plants with high forage value to feed cattle instead of bringing in outside species was interesting to me, and goes to show yet another way in which conservationists and ranchers share a common goal. After completing forage surveys, it seems to me that research is a fundamental part of modern ranching, even if just because it helps to reduce some of the risk and uncertainty that plagues the life of a ranch manager. Certain pieces of information, such as the fact that 20-25% canopy cover on a piece of land provides an equivalent amount of nutrition via forage to cattle as does a piece of land with 0% canopy cover, is vital to any parties interested in ranching or conservation. Finally, just having the opportunity to explore land nestled in the Bull Mountains allowed me to discover for myself how rangeland can act as a sanctuary for wildlife, as evidenced by the variety of species we came across.

On our final day we met with county extension agent John Pfister, who proved to be a perfect example of an effective bridge of communication between ranchers and academics. One thing he mentioned that was of particular interest was that ranchers often already monitor their land the same way scientists do. Because they frequently come from ranching families, they may even be better equipped to notice foreign plant species or changes in weather patterns than those with a background in research. The only difference, according to him, was that landowners are not quick to record their observations and as a result cannot share observations as easily. Again, it is amazing to consider how much could be accomplished with just a little more collaboration and communication between separate ranches.

After being exposed to the variety of factors that contribute to a healthy rangeland from both a ranching and a conservation standpoint, I think that the integration of technology and communication in management practices will be necessary in the future in order to simplify modern issues, such as climate change, without overwhelming the ranching industry. It makes me hopeful to realize that organizations such as the Nature Conservancy are already successfully bridging the gap between science and ranch management, however it is important to recognize that what they are doing must be replicated on a global scale.