Case Studies: 9. Chihuahua Grasslands

International Conference on Biodiversity and Society
Columbia University Earth Institute
UNESCO
May 22-25, 2001

Thematic Focus

While there remains considerable controversy regarding the effects of cattle ranching on the biodiversity of the North American desert grasslands, there is a growing consensus among ranchers and environmentalists that the fragmentation of the landscape through the breaking up of large land holdings and the ensuing unwise property development is an increasingly serious threat to both biodiversity and the traditional ranching culture. The Chihuahua Grasslands Case Study (CGCS) examines this issue, focusing on the grasslands of the Chihuahua Desert in the USA-Mexico borderlands and the Chihuahua Biosphere Reserves (Jornada, Big Bend and Mapimi).

The CGCS examines the social, economic and institutional causes for the breakup of ranches, as well as the impact which further fragmentation may be expected to have upon the biodiversity of the Chihuahua Grasslands. The study also explores what strategies, if any, are available to preserve ranches intact, bearing in mind that the conservation of large land holdings does not imply protection of biodiversity. Finally, given the constraints imposed by dramatically increasing regional population, strong attachments to property rights, and diminishing profitability of ranching, the CGCS explores possibilities for minimum impact property development.

Multi-Stakeholder Workshops

The Chihuahua Grasslands Workshop was held at the Audubon Society's Research Ranch in Southeastern Arizona on the 28th and 29th of October. The goal of the workshop was to carry out multi-stakeholder discussions beyond defensive considerations of how to prevent landscape fragmentation, focusing instead upon the question of what can be done to minimize the negative impacts of inevitable fragmentation upon the region's biodiversity and traditional cultures. Invited participants included grasslands specialists such as Carl and Jane Bock, and Maria Fernandez-Gimenez, as well as anthropologists, historians, economists, architects and regional planners, local ranchers, county and state administrators, and representatives of environmentalist organizations active in the area (The Nature Conservancy, WWF, Audubon Society).

Collaborators and Institutional Affiliates

The case study documents are to be co-authored by Charles Curtin (Arid Lands Project), Nathan Sayre (Arizona State Museum and Jornada Biosphere Reserve), and Benjamin Lane (ICBS).