Livestock Use on Public Lands in the Western USA Exacerbates Climate Change: Implications for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.

ABSTRACT: Public lands of the USA can play an important role in addressing the climate crisis. About 85% of public lands in the western USA are grazed by domestic livestock, and they influence climate change in three profound ways: (1) they are significant sources of greenhouse gases through enteric fermentation and manure deposition; (2) they defoliate native plants, trample vegetation and soils, and accelerate the spread of exotic species resulting in a shift in landscape function from carbon sinks to sources of greenhouse gases; and (3) they exacerbate the effects of climate change on ecosystems by creating warmer and drier conditions. On public lands one cow-calf pair grazing for one month (an "animal unit month" or "AUM") produces 875 kg CO₂e through enteric fermentation and manure d

SUBMITTER: Kauffman JB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9079022 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature