Mark Brunson is a professor in the Department of Environment & Society at Utah State University, where he has worked since 1992 after earning his doctorate at Oregon State University.  His teaching and research activities focus on understanding people’s perceptions and behaviors toward natural ecosystems (in particular, rangelands) and how these might be influenced to improve natural resource stewardship.  He is one of the principal investigators of SageSTEP – a five year, multi-disciplinary study that is evaluating alternative options for restoration of sagebrush communities throughout the Great Basin – and his presentation today will draw heavily on the early findings of the SageSTEP project.

Email: Mark.Brunson@usu.edu

Abstract:

Sagebrush Steppe Restoration from a Social Science Perspective

Mark Brunson, Utah State University, Logan, UT

Most of the West’s sagebrush steppe ecosystems lie on public lands, where citizens have a right and ability to influence the course of land management activities.  Therefore it is important to understand how citizens view restoration activities, as a general approach to management and also with respect to specific practices such as prescribed fire, grazing, mechanical treatments or herbicide application.  I will review results of recent studies by myself and colleagues on this topic that explored attitudes and beliefs of the general public and members of important stakeholder groups.  Our findings suggest that citizens are somewhat aware of problems facing the sagebrush biome although they may not realize the degree of threat, and they have a generally positive outlook toward restoration.  However, they are wary of some treatment approaches more than others, and they are skeptical about the ability of federal agencies to successfully implement restoration treatments.