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Rangeland managers' adoption of innovations, awareness of state and transition models, and management of Bromus tectorum: a survey of ranchers and natural resource professionals in Wyoming and Colorado

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dc.contributor.authorKelley, Windy K., author
dc.contributor.authorFernandez-Gimenez, Maria Edith, advisor
dc.contributor.authorMeiman, Paul J., committee member
dc.contributor.authorBrown, Cynthia S., committee member
dc.contributor.authorTeel, Tara L., committee member
dc.coverage.spatialColorado
dc.coverage.spatialWyoming
dc.date.accessioned2007-01-03T04:52:23Z
dc.date.available2007-01-03T04:52:23Z
dc.date.issued2010
dc.description.abstractDecision-making tools that help land managers understand the complexity of interactions between the human and biophysical components of rangelands and make decisions in a changing environment are necessary for sustainable rangeland management. To ensure the success of such tools, it is important to understand the end users' knowledge, views, and current management practices related to decision-making tools, as well as the factors associated with their adoption and implementation. We facilitated focus groups and distributed a self-administered mail survey to ranchers and natural resource professionals (NRPs) in Wyoming and Colorado to explore factors associated with ranchers' adoption and implementation of progressive management and business practices and their use of government programs. Additionally, we sought to gain an understanding of ranchers' and NRPs' awareness, attitudes, and current management practices related to two current rangeland topics: state and transition models (STMs), a rangeland assessment, planning, and monitoring tool, and cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.), a non-native invasive weed. We found that the greatest percentage of ranchers (37%) is in the two most innovative categories, strongly proactive, and innovators. We recommend a diffusion of innovation strategy that focuses on reaching the most risk- tolerant ranchers first, in order to disseminate innovations into local communities where the proactive ranchers (35% of our respondents) can observe implementation and outcomes associated with adoption of a new practice/program. However, care must be taken to insure innovations are diffused vertically within a population, reaching different socioeconomic levels. In addition, we found that 69% of ranchers were unaware of STMs, and there is much variation among natural resource agencies in their awareness and use of this tool. Both ranchers and NRPs perceive that STMs will help them to achieve their ecological and/or economic objectives. Overall, ranchers and NRPs perceive cheatgrass as a problem, but professionals generally perceive it as a bigger problem than ranchers, and perceptions of both groups vary regionally in Wyoming and Colorado. Ranchers reported they had the most success managing cheatgrass by grazing it in the early spring. NRPs reported they were most successful managing cheatgrass with a combined approach of prescribed fire, herbicide application, and seeding. This study demonstrates the need to develop appropriate outreach and extension material about STMs and the management of cheatgrass for each of the target populations in Wyoming and Colorado.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifierKelley_colostate_0053N_10130.pdf
dc.identifierETDF2010200111FRWS
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10217/44962
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2000-2019
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectranchers' perspectives
dc.subjectnatural resource professionals' perspectives
dc.subjectcheatgrass management
dc.subjectstate and transition models
dc.subjectadoption of innovation
dc.subjectCheatgrass brome -- Colorado
dc.subjectCheatgrass brome -- Wyoming
dc.titleRangeland managers' adoption of innovations, awareness of state and transition models, and management of Bromus tectorum: a survey of ranchers and natural resource professionals in Wyoming and Colorado
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineForest, Rangeland, and Watershed Stewardship
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.S.)

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