Institute of Water Research

Rangelands cover a significant portion of the world's agricultural area. In addition to providing important forage for livestock, they have a vast potential for storing carbon. However, the ability of these lands to provide such ecosystem services is threatened by land use changes and soil degradation due to mismanagement, such as overgrazing. Addressing this issue requires an integrated approach that not only focuses on improving soil health but also considers the socio-economic aspects of rangeland management. 

Spanning three diverse ecoregions in the U.S., including research hubs in Michigan, Oklahoma, and Wyoming, the project looks at how contrasting grazing management strategies affect carbon and water cycling at the field scale as well as producer social and economic wellbeing at over 60 farms and ranches. This broad geographic scope provides a comprehensive understanding of how different environmental and socio-economic factors influence pasture and rangeland ecosystems and vice-versa. 

The project brings together researchers from 11 nonprofit organizations, for-profit businesses, private research institutes and public universities in the United States and the United Kingdom. Led by Noble Research Institute, Michigan State University, Colorado State University and the University of Wyoming, collaborators include Oregon State University, National Grazing Lands Coalition, USDA-ARS (Maryland, Colorado and Wyoming), Savory Institute, Snaplands LLC,  The Nature Conservancy and  the UK’s Quanterra Systems.The project's uniqueness lies in its comprehensive methodology, integrating advanced field and remote sensing technologies, and complex-systems modeling. It aims to: 

1. Accurately quantify soil health and ecosystem metrics affected by management practices. 
2. Examine the interplay between grazing management and soil health. 
3. Develop process-based ecosystem models predicting soil carbon sequestration and ecological functions. 
4. Understand the socio-economic wellbeing and resilience of rural communities involved in rangeland management.