Approaching rangelands as working landscapes begins from the premise that people and the environment shape each other over time. Sustainable management is therefore not only an ecological but also a social process, strongly influenced by local histories of resource use, management, change, and learning. The case of the Altar Valley, Arizona, offers insights into how economics, range science, mental models, and the scale of decision making have shaped ranchers and the landscape over time. In particular, it provides empirical answers to important questions facing range science today: How do scientific knowledge and recommendations affect on-the-ground management? How do ranchers weigh economic, ecological, and cultural goals against one another? What kinds of information do ranchers and other parties need to solve problems and improve stewardship in a rapidly changing West?
Source: An excerpt from the introduction to A History of Working Landscapes: The Altar Valley, Arizona, USA.
Reports and other documents about Sonoran Desert ecology, management, and conservation. Curated by the not-for-profit Altar Valley Conservation Alliance (AVCA) located outside Tucson, AZ.