Effects of Livestock Grazing On The Ecology Of Sierra Meadows: A Review of The Current State of Scientific Knowledge To Inform Meadow Restoration And Management.

Wet montane meadows are an important component of the Sierra Nevada, CA ecosystem that provide diverse ecological services when in functional condition. Efforts are underway to restore meadows that have been degraded from past and historic land uses. Livestock grazing is a common land use in meadows with the potential to impact Sierra meadow ecology and may be a critical determinant of restoration success. We used a systematic literature review (SLR) method to identify, review, and synthesize scientific literature about the ecological effects of livestock grazing on Sierra meadow ecology resource areas, including hydrologic function, water quality, plants, soil, fens, and fish and wildlife species. We found 47 studies that matched our search criteria for inclusion in this SLR. Livestock grazing was associated with predominantly negative effects for each resource area reviewed, suggesting that achieving functional ecological condition in Sierra meadows that are currently used for livestock grazing may be challenging. Nevertheless, there was some evidence for compatibility with certain resource areas and certain management regimes. We discuss livestock management options, ecological objectives, and research questions that emerge from the literature to help inform meadow restoration and management.

Governance Challenges in Joint Inter-Jurisdictional Management: The Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, Elk Case.

The controversial elk reduction program (elk hunt) in Grand Teton National Park, WY, has been a source of conflict since it was legislated in 1950. The hunt is jointly managed by the National Park Service and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. This forced organizational partnership and the conflicting mandates of these two agencies have led to persistent conflict that seems irresolvable under the current decision-making process. To better understand the decision-making process and participant perspectives, we reviewed management documents, technical literature, and newspaper articles, and interviewed 35 key participants in this case. We used these data to analyze and appraise the adequacy of the decision-making process for the park elk hunt and to ask whether it reflects the common interest. We found deficiencies in all functions of the decision-making process. Neither the decisions made nor the process itself include diverse perspectives, nor do they attend to valid and appropriate participant concerns. Agency officials focus their attention on technical rather than procedural concerns, which largely obfuscates the underlying tension in the joint inter-jurisdictional management arrangement and ultimately contributes to the hunt's annual implementation to the detriment of the common interest. We offer specific yet widely applicable recommendations to better approximate an inclusive and democratic decision-making process that serves the community's common interests.