Boots and Birkenstocks Working Together to Keep Ranchers
The California Rangeland Conservation Coalition: Boots and Birkenstocks Working Together to Keep Ranchers Ranching California Rangelands • 60 million acres • Grasslands oak woodlands and savanna, vernal pools • Mostly privately owned • Cattle grazing main land use Tracy Schohr Spanish Period (1769-1822) • Introduction of nonnative plant and animal species: - Intentional - Accidental California Rangelands provide Environmental Benefits • Food • Wildlife habitat • Water cycling • Carbon sequestration • Cultural services Rangeland Conversion 20,000 acres of rangeland are converted every year Ranching in California • Low profits • High land values • The next generation? • Climate change… Let’s try collaboration! • First meeting Summer 2005 • 12 organizations NRCS,FWS, Defenders, Cattlemen’s • 127 organizations 2015 California Rangeland Resolution Conservation of rangelands through collaboration: - Keeping common species common on private landscapes - Recover imperiled species and enhance habitat, minimize regulations streamlining processes - Increasing funding and technical assistance for stewardship - Encourage conservation in private ranches - Educate the public about the benefits of rangelands and ranches - Supporting the long-term viability of the ranching industry (Keep ranchers ranching!) We put rangelands on the map! The tipping point… Jaymee Marty Structure • Fiscal sponsor: Trust for Conservation Innovation • Staff • Committees: ! Steering ! Administrative ! Public Lands ! Policy ! Outreach California Rangeland Conservation Coalition • Research • Outreach • Policy Working together to keep ranchers ranching! Research: Payments for Ecosystem Services: A California Rancher Perspective Funded by NRCS CIG Survey: Interested in Participating in Payments for Ecosystem Services Program? 17% Yes 7% No Don’t Know 76% 14 Reasons for Non- Participation in Resource Conservation Programs 44 Concern About Gov't Restriction 23 Hassle/Paperwork 21 Didn't Understand How to Apply 14 Not Accepted 16 Pay Not High Enough 12 Interferes with Livestock Prodcution 8 Not Allowed Under Lease 6 Didn't Want to Change Way I Manage Land 5 Contract Too Long 23 Other 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 # of Responses 35 40 45 50 Outreach – Annual Summit, website, e-updates, grazing tours, annual BBQ – Raise awareness of the importance of ranching – Promote the use of grazing as a tool for conservation Outreach • We have created a community of people interested in rangelands – Publications: Grazing for change, guardians of the range – E-newsletter list: 1,800 people – Summit attendance 2006 = 80 people Summit attendance 2013 = 380 people Policy – Boots and birkenstocks; visit to Washington DC – Farm Bill, Williamson Act, Tax incentives for conservation easements Increased Funding and Technical Assistance ! Rapid Watershed Assessment Program ! Agricultural Water Quality Enhancement Program 2010-2014: Yolo RCD, Audubon, Defenders of Wildlife, Rangeland Coalition; $1.3 million of NRCS funding for conservation practices on 60,955 acres Current Projects Assessing Threats to Ecosystem Services on California Rangelands • USGS/Defenders of Wildlife/ CRCC • Funded by the California Landscape Conservation Cooperative • Published in Landscape Ecology and Bioscience Current Projects Wildlife-Friendly Livestock Pond Initiative • Working with RCDs • Good for ranchers and good for wildlife • Funding needed!!!! Challenges • Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement (CRCC) • California Foothills Legacy Area (FWS) • Public Lands Grazing? Challenges • Funding • Structure and decision-making • Forum for discussion or for action? Collaborative Conservation • Rewarding but challenging • Egosystem management: It is all about people • Opportunities for success are as great as the ones for failure Collaborative Conservation Is there a better way?
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