In Rangeland Ecology & Management, Nova Scholar Hannah Gosnell and coauthors examine ways to integrate formal and informal land management monitoring practices for pasture and rangelands.
This study examines how U.S. ranchers monitor the condition of their pastures and rangelands. While scientists often promote formal, scientific monitoring methods, ranchers frequently rely on informal approaches like visual checks, observations, and photos. Interviews with 63 ranchers across three regions showed that formal methods are often avoided because they are time-consuming, labor-intensive, or fail to capture local conditions. Informal monitoring, by contrast, helps ranchers track changes and make decisions suited to their land. The study suggests that scientists and conservation professionals should recognize and work with these informal practices, and explore ways to combine them with formal methods to improve rangeland management.
