The Effects of Federal Policies on Rangeland Ecosystem Services in the Southwestern United States

Rangelands provide a wide array of ecosystem services — the direct benefits people receive from nature. There is increasing interest by policymakers and conservationists in managing for these ecosystem services. Because of complex land tenure arrangements in the Intermountain West, it is important to understand the impacts of federal resource management laws on ecosystem services flowing from public and private lands. All major federal land management laws are supportive of managing for ecosystem services. We review the implications of FLPMA, NFMA, NEPA, ESA, and CWA on ecosystem services on public and private lands.