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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #402718
Research Project: Science and Technologies for the Sustainable Management of Western Rangeland Systems

Location: Range Management Research

Title: Fulfilling the promise of digital tools to build rangeland resilience

Author
item Bestelmeyer, Brandon
item McCord, Sarah
item Browning, Dawn
item Burkett, Laura
item Elias, Emile
item Estell, Richard - Rick
item Herrick, Jeffrey - Jeff
item James, Darren
item Spiegal, Sheri
item UTSUMI, SANTIAGO - New Mexico State University
item Webb, Nicholas - Nick
item Williamson, Jebediah - Jeb

Submitted to: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/29/2023
Publication Date: 4/8/2024
Citation: Bestelmeyer, B.T., McCord, S.E., Browning, D.M., Burkett, L.M., Elias, E.H., Estell, R.E., Herrick, J.E., James, D.K., Spiegal, S.A., Utsumi, S.A., Webb, N.P., Williamson, J.C. 2024. Fulfilling the promise of digital tools to build rangeland resilience. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 22(5). Article e2736. https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2736.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2736

Interpretive Summary: Digital tools and information sources have become abundant and could substantially improve the management of extensive rangelands and drylands in the face of climate and land change. These tools, however, are often not used effectively because their potential applicability to management is unknown, access to tools is limited, or potential users lack trust in and technical knowledge of tools. Linking digital tools to collaborative adaptive management activities, supported by scientists and technicians embedded in local social networks

Technical Abstract: The world's rangelands and drylands are undergoing rapid change, and consequently are becoming more difficult to manage. Big data and digital technologies (digital tools) provide land managers with a means to understand and adaptively manage change. An assortment of tools—including standardized field ecosystem monitoring databases; web-accessible maps of vegetation change, production forecasts, and climate risk; sensor networks and virtual fencing; mobile applications to collect and access a variety of data; and new models, interpretive tools, and tool libraries—together provide unprecedented opportunities to detect and direct rangeland change. Accessibility to and manager trust in and knowledge of these tools, however, have failed to keep pace with technological advances. Collaborative adaptive management that involves multiple stakeholders and scientists who learn from management actions is ideally suited to capitalize on an integrated suite of digital tools. Embedding science professionals and experienced technology users in social networks can enhance peer-to-peer learning about digital tools and fulfill their considerable promise.