PARENT SESSION
Poster Session #42: Restoration of Public Lands.
Wednesday, August 7. Presentation from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Exhibit Hall B & C, TCC

Lifting the wool above our eyes: the ecological effects of Holistic Resource Management in arid lands.

Loeser, Matthew^*,1, Sisk, Thomas¹, Crews, Timothy², ¹ Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ² Prescott College, Prescott, AZ

ABSTRACT- In light of increasing criticism of grazing on public lands, land managers have been closely evaluating their alternatives. One alternative that has received widespread attention is Holistic Resource Management (HRM). The application of HRM to livestock grazing involves increasing herd density while decreasing the duration of the grazing event. Although HRM advocates predict benefits in diversity and ecosystem function, few scientific studies have been conducted. We compared the ecological effects of HRM policies to adjacent conventionally managed ranches. In comparison to conventional management: 1) HRM yielded no consistent differences in plant diversity; 2) ground cover surveys revealed HRM to have 10-15% more bare ground; 3) no differences in aboveground biomass were observed; 4) neither arthropod abundance nor species richness had consistent responses to HRM; 5) HRM treatments showed 5-10% higher soil compaction; and 6) HRM showed 15% more soil nitrogen in the uppermost 10 cm of the soil. To date, the results of this study suggest complex trade-offs in ecological responses may result from choosing an HRM strategy. It would be appropriate for resource managers of arid lands to exercise a cautious approach to the implementation of HRM principles on a large scale.

KEY WORDS: Holistic Resource Management, arid grasslands, grazing, land management