A synthesis of ranch-level sustainability indicators for land managers and to communicate across the US beef supply chain

Authors: AHLERING, MARISSA - The Nature Conservancy; KAZANSKI, CLARE - The Nature Conservancy; LENDRUM, PATRICK - World Wildlife Fund; BORRELLI, PABLO - Non ARS Employee; CLARK, LEXI - Field To Market: The Alliance For Sustainable Agriculture; ELLIS, CHAD - Non ARS Employee; GADZIA, KIRK - Non ARS Employee; GELBARD, JONATHAN - Non ARS Employee; GOODWIN, JEFF - Noble Research Institute; Herrick, Jeffrey - Jeff; KACHERGIS, EMILY - Bureau Of Land Management; KNAPP, CORRINE - University Of Wyoming; MACZKO, KRISTIE - Non ARS Employee; PORZIG, ELIZABETH - Non ARS Employee; RIZZO, DAVID - Non ARS Employee; Spiegal, Sheri; WILSON, CHRISTOPHER - National Audubon Society

Submitted to: Rangeland Ecology and Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/6/2021
Publication Date: 10/19/2021
Citation: Ahlering, M.A., Kazanski, C., Lendrum, P., Borrelli, P., Clark, L., Ellis, C., Gadzia, K., Gelbard, J., Goodwin, J., Herrick, J.E., Kachergis, E., Knapp, C., Maczko, K., Porzig, E., Rizzo, D., Spiegal, S.A., Wilson, C. 2021. A synthesis of ranch-level sustainability indicators for land managers and to communicate across the US beef supply chain. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 79:217-230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2021.08.011.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2021.08.011

Interpretive Summary: The objective of this paper was to synthesize knowledge about how to assess and monitor ranch-scale sustainability. We also sought to identify core ecological, social, and economic indicators that could can be used to describe well-managed rangeland and ranching operations, support adaptive management, and demonstrate producers’ sustainability and continuous improvement to retailers and consumers. We evaluated over 190 indicators from 21 range and pastureland assessments used or created by NGOs, agencies, and academics. From this, we selected 20 commonly used “core” indicators (12 ecological and 8 socioeconomic). We chose indicators designed to detect change over time in relation to management practices, are common among many approaches, and/or are critical indicators for outcomes of common interest to producers, companies, and consumers. The synthesis of indicators offers insight into what a diverse set of range professionals and institutions see as most critical to demonstrate and track ranch-level sustainability. Producers, consumers, and companies may find a subset of these indicators to be especially relevant for their operation and region, values, and/or company sustainability goals.

Technical Abstract: Increasing numbers of ranchers are striving to demonstrate that they are managing their operations in a sustainable manner to maintain a healthy landscape while at the same time companies seek to advance sustainability along their beef supply chains and consumers seek to support sustainability with their purchasing choices.  Yet there is a need for greater clarity on which indicators are most effective for assessing and monitoring sustainable management and continuous improvement of ranching operations. Our objective was to synthesize existing guidance on monitoring and assessing ranch-scale sustainability and to identify core ecological, social, and economic indicators that could identify well-managed ranching, support adaptive management, and demonstrate producers’ sustainability and continuous improvement to retailers and consumers. We evaluated 21 range and pastureland assessments from NGOs, agencies, and academics that totaled over 190 indicators. From this, we selected 20 commonly used “core” indicators (12 ecological and 8 socioeconomic). We chose indicators designed to detect change over time in relation to management practices, are common among many approaches, and/or are critical indicators for outcomes of common interest to producers, companies, and consumers. The synthesis of indicators across many guidance documents offers insight into what a diverse set of range professionals and institutions see as most critical to demonstrate and track ranch-level sustainability. Producers, consumers, and companies may find a subset of these indicators to be especially relevant for their operation and region, values, and/or company sustainability goals.