Leveraging social science research to advance contemporary rangeland management: Understanding the “new faces” of range managers

Abstract

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  Rangeland management research has historically focused on the ecological dimensions of these unique ecosystems, but the social dimensions of rangeland management have been understudied.

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  Considering rangelands as complex socio-ecological systems, we offer a framework to provide insights into how increased engagement of social science research can improve the management of contemporary rangeland ecosystems.

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  We posit the framework within shifting socio-demographic conditions experienced in contemporary rangeland systems, which include an increasing diversity in the socio-demographics of rangeland managers; an increasing number of younger ranchers inheriting or purchasing ranches from aging ranchers; and an increasing presence of exurban migrants moving from cities to rural areas.

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  Within this context, our framework centers its attention on contemporary rangeland managers and discusses their relationship with different relevant social institutions and natural resources while offering insights on how social science research can facilitate a better understanding and more up-to-date information concerning these relationships.