Sustaining rangelands in the 21st century

Abstract

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  The major threats to sustaining rangelands in the 21st century are climate and land-use change, both of which originate outside of rangelands themselves.

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  Society's demands on rangelands have shifted away from livestock production and toward services and disservices such as climate mitigation and greenhouse gas emissions.

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  Sustaining rangelands in the United States depends on sustainability of the larger beef production system, including crop agriculture, feeding, and finishing.

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  Understanding the history of the beef system helps identify strategies and priorities for sustaining rangelands and meeting society's evolving demands.