Using Western Landscapes - Mountains and Plains: The Ecology of Wyoming Landscapes - page 313

Fig. 18.8. Wind energy projects also contribute to the fragmen-
tation of habitat and open space. towers for the turbines and
associated power lines provide perches for raptors that prey on
birds and small mammals more often than they would without

the perches, thereby extending the effects of this kind of
industrial development. Power companies strive to locate power
lines along corridors to minimize their visual and ecological
impacts. Photo © Dave Showalter, Lighthawk Aerial Support.

resources (such as ranchers who have grazing leases, or
landowners with property that is highly valued because
it is adjacent to public land).
the ecosystem management concept reinforces
such commonly accepted practices as environmental
impact assessment, public participation in the develop-
ment of management plans, and monitoring of resource
values to ensure that management practices are work-
ing as intended. Goals include managing for long-term
sustainability, which means maintaining productive
capacity of the soil (as mandated in the Multiple Use-
Sustained Yield Act) and preventing species extinction
wherever possible (as mandated by the endangered
Species Act). the nature of ecosystems in the region
certainly changed dramatically during the Holocene
and before (see chapter 2). now, however, with greater
societal demands on natural resources, combined with
habitat fragmentation and accelerated climate change,
precautions seem prudent. ecosystem management is a
step toward being more cautious.
How much land is necessary for effective ecosystem
management? Human-defined ecosystem boundaries,
like political boundaries, are always somewhat arbi-

trary, as animals, plants, water, nutrients, sediments,
energy, and pollutants move or disperse across them
(see chapter 1). the size of the area needed to imple-
ment an ecosystem management approach depends on
what ecological issues the management plan is designed
to address. For example, the area included in the Greater
Yellowstone ecosystem was determined to a large extent
by considering the land used by the widely dispersed
elk and grizzly bear populations (see chapter 15). in all
cases, various landowners are involved; collaboration is
needed.
Understanding that some landowners might feel
threatened by this approach, proponents of ecosystem
management strive to achieve sustainability while avoid-
ing adverse impacts on people who depend on the land-
scapes of the region and who, indeed, can be important
stewards of the land. enabling them to prosper reduces
the likelihood of land sales that could lead to sub-
divisions or other uses that are not helpful. indeed, mak-
ing a living in a region with a semi-arid, cool climate
can be difficult. the most appropriate livelihoods and
management practices may not have been achieved dur-
ing a mere century of trial and error. though difficult