Herbivory in the Intermountain West
Burkhardt JW. 1996. Herbivory in the Intermountain West. University of Idaho Rangeland Ecology and Management Department. University of Idaho
There has been increasing interest in environmental issues related to land use in the western U.S. over the past decade. Traditional consumptive uses of renewable natural resources are coming under increasing scrutiny, especially on public lands. Certainly a major part of these land use concerns focuses on livestock grazing on public lands. While livestock grazing may be one of humankind's oldest endeavors, second to hunting or food gathering, (Towne and Wentworth 1951) its environmental sustainability is being questioned. Our experience with historic livestock grazing in western North America provides a mixed track record. While most rangelands remain productive and stable after more than a century of livestock grazing, problems with altered plant communities and eroding streams abound. As a response to those problems there is a questioning of the ecological sustainability of livestock grazing. This paper is a review of the scientific literature relating to prehistoric and historic herbivory on the Intermountain West of North America. This characterization of the nature and role of prehistoric herbivory in comparison to our historic domestic grazing experience can provide useful insight to future management of livestock grazing.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Burkhardt, J.
- Date of Issue
- 1996
- Publisher
- University of Idaho Rangeland Ecology and Management Department
- Keywords
- evolutionary history, historic cultural impacts, land use, western USA
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Human Use | Consumptive Use | Consumptive Use , Ecological Framework: Human Use | Cultural Landscapes | Cultural Landscapes