A comprehensive analysis of grazing: Improving management for environmental health

Abstract

In an effort to combat the dual climate and biodiversity crises, the international community has put forth targets to reduce emissions and protect species. Habitat degradation is at the fore in driving species extinctions and carbon loss, creating an urgent need to examine our land-use practices if we are to meet international goals. Individual nations will have differing needs and approaches to reaching these objectives based on their landscapes, industries, and levels of historic overuse. In the United States, grazing is the leading land-use, making up approximately one-third of the country. Here we present a broad-scale analysis of how grazing effects the environment and examine how this land-use plays out across the U.S. This review can help policy makers and land managers strategically assess grazing lands as we work towards a national landscape that supports equitable ecosystem services, sustainable livelihoods, and climate resilience.