‘The mountain has a story to tell’: transhumant production systems in the US Intermountain West

Abstract

Grazing systems research has taken a notable social-ecological turn in response to recent debates, and integrative work is still needed to address gaps in our understanding of multiscalar dynamics in transhumant systems. Transhumance encompasses diverse cultures, ecological relationships, and traditions across global rangelands. Research illuminating the social-ecological relationships, risks and opportunities for adaptation presented by transhumant systems can inform decision-making for sustainable outcomes. In this paper, we take a multiscalar social-ecological systems approach to explore sheep transhumance in the US Intermountain West. We explore both how and why range sheep producers graze extensive groups (bands, i.e. 500–2 500 head) of dual-purpose sheep across a complex web of economic, bureaucratic and ecological dynamics. We use a four-year social-ecological field study – including participant observation and semi-structured interviews, vegetation and animal monitoring, and grazing records – to describe the intermountain transhumant system in eastern Idaho. We consider how patterns of multi-species interactions inform knowledge of grazing and social-ecological systems and illuminate a more practical list of risks, challenges and opportunities for adaptation presented by the case study. Here, the structure and function of land management governance and food system infrastructure are as important to social-ecological outcomes as are the structure and function of ecosystem processes.