Meat Production Leads to Massive Forest Clearing and Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Could Sustainable Livestock Management Be the Answer?
In the United States, conservation organizations are increasingly looking towards regenerative ranching as a potential solution to environmental problems caused by beef production. This approach, which encourages ranchers to manage their lands in a way that closely mimics natural processes, is gaining traction as a means of avoiding overgrazing and other harmful practices.
The Audubon Society recently certified the Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed network, adding 600,000 acres of land to the program and bringing the total rangeland covered by the initiative to 3 million acres. Organizations such as the American Farmland Trust (AFT) and The Nature Conservancy are also investing in programs to support regenerative ranching, aiming to improve soil health, water quality, and pollinator habitat.
John Cannon, a staff features writer with Mongabay, has reported on the benefits of regenerative ranching. Cattle are often seen as a significant contributor to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions. However, proponents argue that grazing is necessary for the health of grasslands, as it helps with nutrient cycling, water and air penetration, and local biodiversity.
Steve Wooten, who runs the Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado, has faced the challenges of drought and the financial losses that come with it. In response, he and his family decided to make changes to the ranch to increase its resilience against drought, implementing a strategy that aims to mimic the role of wild grazers on grasslands, focusing on holistic grazing.
The Wootens' efforts are part of a broader movement towards regenerative ranching. The Nature Conservancy aims to improve management of around a third of grazing lands in the U.S. by 2030, and the Savory Institute's holistic management approach is often cited in efforts to replicate natural processes in regenerative ranching.
However, not all conservationists are convinced. Some argue that the focus on regenerative grazing is problematic, as cattle are at the heart of many environmental issues. Others believe that more attention should be given to reducing subsidies for the animal agricultural industry.
Despite these debates, the demand for beef is expected to grow considerably by 2050, with the U.S. accounting for more than a fifth of demand in 2025. A 2022 study found that subbing out 20% of the consumption of ruminant meat (including goats and sheep, but primarily cattle) with alternative proteins could cut deforestation in half by mid-century.
Alternative proteins, such as plant cells or fermentation that mimic the taste of meat, are being developed as a more sustainable alternative to beef. However, for now, regenerative ranching offers a promising solution for balancing the need for beef with the need for environmental conservation.
As Steve Wooten, the fifth and sixth generations of the Wooten family are currently living on the Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado, and he believes that future generations will continue ranching on Colorado's plains, using regenerative practices to ensure the sustainability of their land and the health of their community.
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