ECOLOGY

The Travesty of Public Lands Ranching

An ecological disaster subsidized by the Federal government

An open range sign along the Interstate 10 (I-10) Frontage Road (AKA: Marsh Station Road) in eastern Pima County, Arizona. The “Three Bridges” area of the Cienega Creek Natural Preserve is in the distance. The Rincon Mountains are in the background. Credit: $1LENCE D00600D, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Only ~2% of beef production in the US is sourced from cows grazed on federal public lands, nearly all of it in the Western states. However, the ecological damage inflicted by the industry on these fragile, arid landscapes is obscenely disproportionate, with profoundly negative impacts on flora, fauna, water, soil and more. Ceasing this harmful practice would arguably benefit the natural environment of the Western US more than any other single action.

I also want to emphasize how few humans benefit from public lands ranching. Economically, its contribution to local communities is trivial and could be redressed through the same legislation that discontinues it. For consumers nationwide, beef availability and prices would be unaffected, so you can be a burger fan and oppose public lands ranching without worry.

In other words, eliminating ranching on public lands in the West would have immensely positive effects for the environment and virtually no negative effects for humans. In that way, it’s a total no-brainer.

Yet the subject flies below the radar, even for most environmentally-minded folks. I get why. I myself was unaware of these issues until 2012, when I read…