Maintaining the Many Societal Benefits of Rangelands: The Case of Hawaiʻi

Leah L. Bremer, Neil Nathan, Clay Trauernicht, Puaʻala Pascua, Nicholas Krueger, Jordan Jokiel, Jayme Barton and Gretchen C. Daily
Additional contact information
Leah L. Bremer: University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
Neil Nathan: Natural Capital Project, Department of Biology and Woods Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
Clay Trauernicht: Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
Puaʻala Pascua: American Museum of Natural History, Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, New York, NY 10024, USA
Nicholas Krueger: College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management (CAFNNRM), University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Hilo, HI 96720, USA
Jordan Jokiel: Haleakalā Ranch, Makawao, HI 96768, USA
Jayme Barton: Healthy Soils Hawaiʻi, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
Gretchen C. Daily: Natural Capital Project, Department of Biology and Woods Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA

Land, 2021, vol. 10, issue 7, 1-30

Abstract: Well-managed rangelands provide important economic, environmental, and cultural benefits. Yet, many rangelands worldwide are experiencing pressures of land-use change, overgrazing, fire, and drought, causing rapid degradation. These pressures are especially acute in the Hawaiian Islands, which we explore as a microcosm with some broadly relevant lessons. Absent stewardship, land in Hawaiʻi is typically subject to degradation through the spread and impacts of noxious invasive plant species; feral pigs, goats, deer, sheep, and cattle; and heightened fire risk. We first provide a framework, and then review the science demonstrating the benefits of well-managed rangelands, for production of food; livelihoods; watershed services; climate security; soil health; fire risk reduction; biodiversity; and a wide array of cultural values. Findings suggest that rangelands, as part of a landscape mosaic, contribute to social and ecological health and well-being in Hawaiʻi. We conclude by identifying important knowledge gaps around rangeland ecosystem services and highlight the need to recognize rangelands and their stewards as critical partners in achieving key sustainability goals, and in bridging the long-standing production-conservation divide.

Keywords: conservation; cultural values; ecosystem services; land policy; natural capital; stewardship; sustainable development; grazing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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