My Master's research in Dr. Heather Griscom's lab at James Madison University focused on assessing how pasturelands can serve as natural climate solutions through increased carbon uptake from added trees. However, due to the dependency of people on these lands, we also investigated the trade-offs between production and carbon sequestration. In addition, we sought to understand the motivations of farmers for choosing to enroll or not enroll in sustainable management programs. This project spanned two countries: Panama, and the United States. I also collaborated on two side projects studying bioacoustic diversity and stream health while at my program that connected to the overarching goal of the project. All research was funded by the James Madison University Cinquegrana Presidential Award.
Pastures as Natural Climate Solutions
Global Pasture Stats
(from Chapman et al. 2020 Glob. Chang. Biol.)
Sustainable Management in Pasturelands
Sustainable management practices can encompass a variety of strategies that co-prioritize the longevity and health of ecological systems and the livelihoods of the people that depend on them. In turn, this can enable pasturelands to serve as natural climate solutions because of the increased carbon sequestration from sustainable management practices. This project sought to evaluate how these practices facilitate the success of both priorities and the potential implications with the following sub-projects:
“You can go for a year and just break-even. But I want to raise my kids around cattle. This is my family’s land.” - Rockingham County, VA cattle rancher.
This quote, from an interview with a landowner in 2022, highlights the importance of the longevity and health of pasture systems not only from ecological purposes, but also for people.
Thank you
This work would not have been possible without the generosity of the landowners sharing their time, knowledge, and allowing us access to their property. I am also grateful to our collaborators, Jake Slusser and Jorge Gutiérrez from the Environmental Leadership and Training Initiative and Corey Guilliams from the Virginia Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program for facilitating connections with the community and landowners.