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Global assessment of the non-equilibrium theory of rangelands: Revisited and refined

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  • Engler, John-Oliver
  • von Wehrden, Henrik

Abstract

We re-investigate evidence for the non-equilibrium concept for rangelands using a georeferenced data base of N=83 studies published in peer-reviewed journals. Following up on a previous study by von Wehrden et al. (2012), we use their global map of rainfall variability and their method to distinguish between three different types of degradation depending on the presence or absence of water sources or key resources in the studied areas. Addressing recent discussions in the rangeland science community, we include the distinction between commercial or subsistence use as parameter in our data base. We find that zonal degradation, i.e. degradation with no presence of water or key resources, is predominantly reported for locations with a precipitation coefficient of variation below the threshold of 33%, as proposed by the non-equilibrium concept. We do not find any statistical evidence for a systematic difference between commercial and subsistence farming in terms of degradation incidence.

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  • Engler, John-Oliver & von Wehrden, Henrik, 2018. "Global assessment of the non-equilibrium theory of rangelands: Revisited and refined," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 479-484.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:70:y:2018:i:c:p:479-484
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.11.026
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    2. Daniela Figueroa & Leopoldo Galicia & Manuel Suárez Lastra, 2022. "Latin American Cattle Ranching Sustainability Debate: An Approach to Social-Ecological Systems and Spatial-Temporal Scales," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-17, July.
    3. Crook, David R. & Robinson, Brian E. & Li, Ping, 2020. "The Impact of Snowstorms, Droughts and Locust Outbreaks on Livestock Production in Inner Mongolia: Anticipation and Adaptation to Environmental Shocks," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    4. Virginia Anne Kowal & Julian Ahlborn & Chantsallkham Jamsranjav & Otgonsuren Avirmed & Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer, 2021. "Modeling Integrated Impacts of Climate Change and Grazing on Mongolia’s Rangelands," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-28, April.
    5. Engler, John-Oliver & Wesche, Karsten & Kaczensky, Petra & Dhakal, Prabesh & Chuluunkhuyag, Oyundari & von Wehrden, Henrik, 2021. "Biophysical variability and politico-economic singularity: Responses of livestock numbers in South Mongolian nomadic pastoralism," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    6. Jaime Martínez-Valderrama & Javier Ibáñez Puerta, 2023. "System Dynamics Tools to Study Mediterranean Rangeland’s Sustainability," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-25, January.

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