Impacts of livestock grazing on the probability of burning in wildfires vary by region and vegetation type in California

Siegel, Katherine; Macaulay, Luke; Shapero, Matthew; Becchetti, Theresa; Larson, Stephanie; Mashiri, Fadzayi E.; Waks, Lulu; Larsen, Laurel G.; Butsic, Van

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116092

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…The change in species composition, biomass, and height in this study was likely driven by livestock grazing. These results are supported by prior research showing that the intensity and duration at which cattle are grazed can alter species composition 4 , 15 , and reduce biomass from certain fuel classes potentially leading to reduced fire severity and intensity 25 , 55 . More deliberate management of forages through nutrient additions, seeding of more palatable species, and or grazing management could further alter species composition.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 78%

Assessing silvopasture management as a strategy to reduce fuel loads and mitigate wildfire risk

Batcheler,

Smith,

Swanson

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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Managing private forests for wildfire resilience is challenging due to conflicting social, economic, and ecological decisions that may result in an increase of surface fuel loads leading to greater fire risk. Due to fire suppression and a changing climate, land managers in fire-prone regions face an increasing threat of high severity fires. Thus, land managers need fuel treatment options that match their forest types and management objectives. One potential option for producers that graze livestock is silvopasture management, where livestock, forages, and overstory vegetation are carefully managed for co-benefits on the same unit of land. This study compared forest composition and structure, fuel types, and vegetative biomass between silvopasture and non-grazed managed forests in Washington, U.S. We show that silvopasture management results in reductions in grass biomass, litter, and duff depth when compared to non-grazed managed forest. These findings point to the integrated nature of silvopasture, where management of overstory composition and structure, understory vegetation, and grazing can reduce fuel loads and potential wildfire risk.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 78%

Assessing silvopasture management as a strategy to reduce fuel loads and mitigate wildfire risk

Batcheler,

Smith,

Swanson

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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“…Livestock grazing promotes biodiversity in many different ecosystems around the world (Báldi et al, 2013; Marty, 2005; Mu et al, 2016; Papanikolaou et al, 2011; Porensky et al, 2013). Livestock grazing can be used as a tool for controlling invasive plant species (DiTomaso et al, 2008; Frost & Launchbaugh, 2003; Lym et al, 1997) and for fuel modification to reduce the probability of wildfires in some ecosystems (Freitag et al, 2021; Siegel et al, 2022). Another ecological benefit of grazing in some systems is that it can increase habitat diversity (Fuhlendorf et al, 2006; Öllerer et al, 2019; Vavra, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological benefits of strategically applied livestock grazing in sagebrush communities

Davies,

Boyd,

Bates

et al. 2024

Ecosphere

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There are concerns about the negative consequences of non‐native livestock grazing of sagebrush communities, especially since these communities are experiencing unpreceded threats from invasive annual grasses, altered fire regimes, and climate change. The narrative around grazing often focuses on the effects of heavy, repeated growing season use that were common historically but now are rare or localized (e.g., near water sources). At the same time, the potential for ecological benefits of strategically applied grazing is often overlooked, limiting management options that may promote desired outcomes. To improve management in the face of unprecedented threats, we synthesized the literature to investigate and identify potential ecological benefits of strategically applied livestock grazing in sagebrush communities. We found that grazing can be used to modify fine fuel characteristics in ways that decrease fire probability and severity in sagebrush communities. Pre‐fire moderate grazing may be especially important because it decreases fire severity and, thereby, promotes biodiversity and reduces postfire annual grass invasion, fire‐induced mortality of native bunchgrasses, and fire damage to soil biocrusts. Grazing can create and maintain fine fuel breaks to improve firefighter safety and fire suppression efficiency. Strategic grazing can also be used to promote desirable plant community composition. Grazing can be a valuable tool, that is currently underutilized, for achieving desired management outcomes in the sagebrush and likely other ecosystems. Improper grazing can generate severe negative consequences; therefore, successful application of grazing to achieve desired outcomes will require careful attention to plant community response and balancing management objectives with community constraints.

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“…The recent trend toward targeted grazing has resulted in advocacy to incorporate grazing into state‐wide conservation policy (Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2019; Administration of Governor Gavin Newsom, 2022) and has encouraged expanded grazing efforts for habitat management on public and private conserved lands (Huntsinger et al, 2015; Vaughn et al, 2020). At the same time, in response to increasingly severe wildfires across California and the western United States, land managers are advocating for expanded grazing in open spaces as a fuel management tool (Davies et al, 2009; Huntsinger et al, 2015; Rao, 2020; Vaughn et al, 2020; Siegel et al, 2022). However, not all grazing is equal in its implementation and effects, with historical unrestricted conventional grazing differing from rotational grazing (rotating between two or more pastures throughout the year or season) and targeted grazing (managing grazing around and specifically for natural resource values) (Davies & Boyd, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Livestock grazing is an effective conservation tool for Californian coastal grassland ecology: An eight‐year study on vegetation dynamics

Evans

Woodward

Wyckoff³

et al. 2023

Applied Vegetation Science

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QuestionsLivestock grazing is an expanding land management tool for habitat and fuel management in California grassland ecosystems, despite mixed conclusions about its effects. Our study investigated the following questions: Does a targeted grazing regime promote grassland functioning by clearing bare ground and reducing dead litter cover? Does targeted grazing reduce grassland fuels? Does targeted grazing promote native species cover and diversity? Does targeted grazing reduce non‐native, invasive species cover and diversity? LocationThe Santa Lucia Preserve, Carmel, California, USA.MethodsMonitoring grazed and ungrazed treatment plots within 17 study sites, we surveyed the effects of a targeted grazing regime on bare ground cover, litter cover and depth, herb height, and diversity and cover of different native and non‐native species groups over an eight‐year period.ResultsOn average, grazing successfully increased bare ground (by 2.8% cover), decreased litter depth (by 3.5 cm) and cover (by 12%), and decreased herb height (by 3.9 cm). Grazed plots had greater cover of native annual forbs (+1.2% cover), while decreasing invasive Bromus diandrus (by 6.0% cover). There was no difference in either native or non‐native species diversity.ConclusionsTargeted grazing can be an appropriate tool to accomplish conservation goals, including biomass management and canopy clearing, while improving native annual forbs without risk to native species as a whole. Further steps in adaptive management must examine how the application of grazing may be altered to further promote native species and to inhibit invasive species.

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Impacts of livestock grazing on the probability of burning in wildfires vary by region and vegetation type in California

Cited by 8 publications

References 34 publications

Assessing silvopasture management as a strategy to reduce fuel loads and mitigate wildfire risk

Assessing silvopasture management as a strategy to reduce fuel loads and mitigate wildfire risk

Ecological benefits of strategically applied livestock grazing in sagebrush communities

Livestock grazing is an effective conservation tool for Californian coastal grassland ecology: An eight‐year study on vegetation dynamics

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