New Approaches in the Conservation of Large Open Landscapes

Abstract

The Science of Open Spaces: Theory and Practice for Conserving Large Complex Systems. Curtin, C.G. 2015. Island Press, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. 255 pp. (paperback). ISBN 9781610912051. Mountains and Plains: the Ecology of Wyoming Landscapes. 2nd edition. Knight, D.A., G.P. Jones, W.A. Reiners, and W.H. Romme. 2014. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT, U.S.A. 404 pp. (paperback). ISBN 978-0-300-18592-8. Stitching the West Back Together: Conservation of Working Landscapes. Charnley, S., T.E. Sheridan, and G.P. Nabhan. 2014. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL, U.S.A. 343 pp. (paperback). ISBN 978-0-226-16571-4. Wide open landscapes where sky meets Earth have fascinated many people, probably since humans first stepped out of the forests into the savannas of Africa. Since that moment, humans have been efficiently fragmenting wide open landscapes into manageable units, allocating them to different land-use systems, thereby effectively destroying natural ecosystems and limiting their integrity and connectivity. This process occurred at different times in different places on Earth in human history and relatively recently in North America. Consequently, the chances of successfully protecting the remaining wilderness and its natural values and recreating its connectivity are among the highest in the North American West. However, these tasks are much easier said than done for 2 reasons. One is that large open spaces and landscapes often are inherently complex and one type of solution will not be adequate everywhere. The second is that human use of large open landscapes and the resulting impacts have further increased the complexity of these systems; thus, humans have to be part of the solution. The three books reviewed here focus on large open landscapes, mostly of the American West, and apply widely different yet complementary approaches to conservation. Two themes they have in common are the accommodation of the current human use of the land within plans to save natural ecosystems and species and the recreation or enhancement of the connectivity and integrity of land units or ecosystems. The three books approach these themes from different angles: one is mostly theoretical, the second is mostly descriptive, and the third is mostly operational and social. In The Science of Open Spaces, Charles G. Curtin builds on a strong theoretical foundation to propose a new bottom-up approach to conservation. At the start, he rightly points out that throughout the human history, large open landscapes have been associated with or maintained by mobile or nomadic land-use systems, which is in stark contrast with current thinking on place-based, stationary land-use systems and management approaches. The author aims to present a science-based approach to developing ways to conserve complex, large open landscapes, which requires a thorough overview of many basic theories and principles ranging from thermodynamics to resilience ecology. Although this is undoubtedly useful, the selection of topics can be argued. For instance, I expected more on the application of knowledge from disturbance ecology in the design of management actions. The book continues with a demonstration of how these basic theories and principles can be used to develop locally relevant conservation approaches that can be weaved together in a bottom-up approach to reflect complexity over larger spatial scales. Of the two major case studies discussed, the Malpai Borderlands Group offers a better example for the ideas presented, whereas the Maine coastal fisheries example is more difficult to grasp, although the main concepts and analogies are clear. In the last chapters, Curtin draws general conclusions by reviewing the conceptual bases of preserving open landscapes and then provides a list and discussion of traps and threats to effective conservation of open spaces. Although the reader is left without a stunning overarching synthesis or exact definitions of concepts in “the science of open spaces,” the book defies the typical top-down thinking of conservation theorists and government agencies and effectively demonstrates that one-size-fits-all strategies do not work in complex open systems. In Mountains and Plains, David Knight and his coauthors have compiled an amazing wealth of information on the ecosystems and species of Wyoming landscapes. This is the second edition of a successful book published 20 years ago. The first edition was thoroughly updated with insights from new research and describes changes in ecosystems and their constituent species as well as in conservation policy; climate change is the new overarching theme. The first chapter presents valuable information on the history of Wyoming landscapes and a brief overview of the current major threats. The next three chapters offer well-organized, adequately illustrated and referenced and easy-to-read information on major ecosystems, wetlands, plains and intermountain basins, foothills, and mountains. One particularly useful addition is the fifth chapter, a description of landscapes of special interest. Some of these landscapes (e.g., the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem) are at the forefront of current conservation research, and this chapter provides a comprehensive source about these areas and ecosystems that goes beyond the primary literature. In all, the book is a well-researched synthesis of the major ecosystems of not only Wyoming but also of the Rockies and adjacent intermountain areas. As a rare synthesis, the book is fundamental for anyone aiming to understand these ecosystems of the American West and to gain knowledge on the current conservation status of ecosystems and species, their trends, and threats to biodiversity both for research and for natural resource use and management. Stitching the West Back Together provides an overview of the amazing variety of social partnerships, coalitions or organizations (termed “community-based collaborative conservation groups” [CBCCs] in the book), and conservation approaches that aim to save working landscapes of the American West. The volume, professionally edited by Susan Charnley and coeditors, presents numerous cases studies, written by a wide array of experts, which have two aims in common. The first aim is to preserve working landscapes in the ranching and forestry industries and the second aim is to facilitate the conservation of endangered species and the connectivity of their habitats (the order is important here). The case studies are introduced through a discussion of the importance and brief history of conserving working landscapes. The second part provides information on the causes and conditions that typically lead to the formation of CBCCs and on their modes of operation. The third part presents case studies from working forests, and the fourth part is on working ranches. The final part summarizes the case studies, presents further innovative approaches that allow the coexistence of conservation and for-profit business, and concludes with several important guidelines. These guidelines are nowhere near surprising; however, they demonstrate that there are a myriad of ways to achieve conservation goals in working landscapes. One of the greatest merits of the book is that it proves that the fundamental conflict over land use between conservationists and local stakeholders (ranching and forestry) can be turned around for the benefit of all stakeholders (local people, civil organizations, government agencies, scientists, etc.). This result requires long-term partnerships, reasonable agreements, and innovative solutions. The book does not solely focus on success stories. It presents several programs and initiatives that broke down upon meeting significant challenges, often unforeseen in the first years. Despite the breadth of the topic and the variety of local CBCCs and their conservation activities, the book is easy to follow, thanks to an organization that really works. For example, brief bullet points introduce each chapter and the conclusions or lessons learned are summarized at the end of each chapter. These books are relevant at different levels of conservation and thus will be interesting to a wide readership. Science of Open Spaces presents many theory-based ideas and concepts relevant to conservation but is short on practical guidelines that can be derived from these theories. Mountains and Plains presents a wide body of ecological knowledge on Western ecosystems but says little about management or conservation. Finally, Stitching the West Back Together is strong on how conservation of working landscapes operates in the American West but is less effective at linking social organization and conservation action to ecological impacts or conservation benefits. Nevertheless, these books nicely complement each other. Plenty of overlaps in ecological background, conservation aims and efforts, and social action and organization are evident. For example, the case of the Malpai Borderlands Group is discussed in two of the three books. Furthermore, these books will be very useful to anyone interested in learning more about large open landscapes and particularly about the ecosystems and conservation of the American West. The target audience is students new to the area, professors guiding students in research, government and agency personnel, and experts working for nongovernmental organizations. Each book will thus be a valuable source of ideas and motivation for conservationists working at a wide range of institutions. I wish I had access to any of these books 23 years ago when I first came to admire the breath-taking vastness and big skies of the American West. Should you also happen to be an admirer, the best you can do is to skip the 20-year wait.