Conventional ecological theory holds that grazing by livestock reduces productivity and alters bo... more Conventional ecological theory holds that grazing by livestock reduces productivity and alters botanical composition of rangeland plant communities. Changes in composition from that of the “climax” community are considered to be detrimental, but it is usually assumed that these changes will be reversed when grazing animals are removed. Reducing stocking rate and alternating periods of rest and grazing are attempts to mitigate undesirable effects of grazing. Recent research indicates that range ecosystems may retain their productivity and composition when grazed by livestock at seasons and stocking rates which resemble the grazing patterns under which the ecosystems evolved. Weather and fire may have more effect than grazing on productivity and composition, or may interact with grazing. In ecosystems with long-lived woody perennials, changes in composition may be reversible only after centuries or not at all. Finally, communities at early seral stages or communities including introduced plant species may be more productive than climax communities. All these findings indicate that protection of soil and maintenance of stable plant communities at whatever stage of succession may be more reasonable goals of grazing management than efforts to produce and maintain climax communities.
A remotely sensed pasture management technology, Pasture Growth Rate (PGR) has been developed by ... more A remotely sensed pasture management technology, Pasture Growth Rate (PGR) has been developed by a research consortium of the Department of Agriculture Western Australia (DAWA), Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organisation (CSIRO), and Department of Land Information (DLI). A pilot study was funded by Australian Wool Innovation in 2003 to deliver the PGR information to a number of producers; four cooperative groups in the Great Southern and two groups in Dandaragan. Six producers from these groups were studied during the pasture growing season to determine how they used the technology and assess improvement in profitability, if any of their farming business. Key Findings • In all cases the use of PGR improved the profitability of the sheep enterprise.The increase in gross margin ranged from $23 to $334/per winter grazed hectare (WGHA). • The increased margin resulted from better utilisation of pasture, more effective feed budgeting and the introduction of new management techniqu...
Classic theories suggest that common pool resources are subject to overexploitation. Community-ba... more Classic theories suggest that common pool resources are subject to overexploitation. Community-based resource management approaches may ameliorate tragedy of the commons effects. Here we use a randomized evaluation in Namibia’s communal rangelands to study a comprehensive four-year program to support community-based rangeland and cattle management. We find that the program led to persistent and large improvements for eight of thirteen indices of social and behavioral outcomes. Effects on rangeland health, cattle productivity and household economics, however, were either negative or nil. Positive impacts on community resource management may have been offset by communities’ inability to control grazing by non-participating herds and inhibited by an unresponsive rangeland sub-system. This juxtaposition, in which measurable improvements in community resource management did not translate into better outcomes for households or rangeland health, demonstrates the fragility of the causal pat...
Conventional ecological theory holds that grazing by livestock reduces productivity and alters bo... more Conventional ecological theory holds that grazing by livestock reduces productivity and alters botanical composition of rangeland plant communities. Changes in composition from that of the “climax” community are considered to be detrimental, but it is usually assumed that these changes will be reversed when grazing animals are removed. Reducing stocking rate and alternating periods of rest and grazing are attempts to mitigate undesirable effects of grazing. Recent research indicates that range ecosystems may retain their productivity and composition when grazed by livestock at seasons and stocking rates which resemble the grazing patterns under which the ecosystems evolved. Weather and fire may have more effect than grazing on productivity and composition, or may interact with grazing. In ecosystems with long-lived woody perennials, changes in composition may be reversible only after centuries or not at all. Finally, communities at early seral stages or communities including introduced plant species may be more productive than climax communities. All these findings indicate that protection of soil and maintenance of stable plant communities at whatever stage of succession may be more reasonable goals of grazing management than efforts to produce and maintain climax communities.
A remotely sensed pasture management technology, Pasture Growth Rate (PGR) has been developed by ... more A remotely sensed pasture management technology, Pasture Growth Rate (PGR) has been developed by a research consortium of the Department of Agriculture Western Australia (DAWA), Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organisation (CSIRO), and Department of Land Information (DLI). A pilot study was funded by Australian Wool Innovation in 2003 to deliver the PGR information to a number of producers; four cooperative groups in the Great Southern and two groups in Dandaragan. Six producers from these groups were studied during the pasture growing season to determine how they used the technology and assess improvement in profitability, if any of their farming business. Key Findings • In all cases the use of PGR improved the profitability of the sheep enterprise.The increase in gross margin ranged from $23 to $334/per winter grazed hectare (WGHA). • The increased margin resulted from better utilisation of pasture, more effective feed budgeting and the introduction of new management techniqu...
Classic theories suggest that common pool resources are subject to overexploitation. Community-ba... more Classic theories suggest that common pool resources are subject to overexploitation. Community-based resource management approaches may ameliorate tragedy of the commons effects. Here we use a randomized evaluation in Namibia’s communal rangelands to study a comprehensive four-year program to support community-based rangeland and cattle management. We find that the program led to persistent and large improvements for eight of thirteen indices of social and behavioral outcomes. Effects on rangeland health, cattle productivity and household economics, however, were either negative or nil. Positive impacts on community resource management may have been offset by communities’ inability to control grazing by non-participating herds and inhibited by an unresponsive rangeland sub-system. This juxtaposition, in which measurable improvements in community resource management did not translate into better outcomes for households or rangeland health, demonstrates the fragility of the causal pat...
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Papers by Brien Norton