Document Type
Article
Author ORCID Identifier
Carmen Calzado-Martinez https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2694-2413
Mark Brunson https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6456-3481
Sofia Koutzoukis https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6008-247X
Kari Veblen https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7523-3368
Journal/Book Title
Restoration Ecology
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
Publication Date
3-10-2023
First Page
1
Last Page
9
Abstract
Restoration success in degraded rangelands often depends on a site's resilience to disturbance and resistance to invasive plants. Because it is more difficult to restore plant communities after they are dominated by invasive species, a potential approach is proactive restoration in sites at risk of crossing degradation thresholds (e.g. initiating restoration prior to invasive grass dominance). When developing a new restoration approach, it is important to consider operational feasibility, including social, budgetary, and environmental factors. Accordingly, we studied influences within land management agencies on the adoption of a specific proactive restoration approach: out-planting native grass and forb seedlings into sagebrush stands before they are dominated by cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). Managers from federal and state land management agencies across the Great Basin, U.S.A, were interviewed regarding perceived feasibility of these practices. Twelve in-depth interviews were conducted, and responses were analyzed using a qualitative method, causal layered analysis, not previously applied in a land management context. In the most superficial (litany) layer, cost and scale were prominent. The next (systemic) layer was framed by policy and bureaucracy limitations as well as technical barriers to implementation. In the third (worldview) layer, lack of a proactive management tradition within agencies represented a principal barrier. In the deepest (myth/metaphor) layer, the central belief is that human intervention should be used to protect ecosystem services only after they are disrupted due to human activity. Based on the different obstacles found at each level, we suggest ways to overcome the barriers detected.
Recommended Citation
Calzado-Martinez, C., Brunson, M.W., Koutzoukis, S., Baggio, J. and Veblen, K.E. (2023), Addressing barriers to proactive restoration of at-risk sagebrush communities: a causal layered analysis. Restor Ecol e13897. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13897
Comments
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: [Calzado-Martinez, C., Brunson, M.W., Koutzoukis, S., Baggio, J. and Veblen, K.E. (2023), Addressing barriers to proactive restoration of at-risk sagebrush communities: a causal layered analysis. Restor Ecol e13897. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13897], which has been published in final form at [https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13897]. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.