One of the common myths perpetuated by the livestock industry is that fire supression has allowed juniper to increase across the West, though under natural conditions juniper has long fire rotations of hundreds of years, so not significantly impacted by fire supression. Some studies suggest juniper expansion may be a natural consequence of climate change.
One consequence of ranchers claims of this juniper “invasion” is that grasslands have declined as a result of water competition (though juniper are deep rooted, and grasses shallow rooted, and do not use the same soil profile), shading, and so on. Also some studies suggest juniper expansion may be harming sage grouse in some places.
As a result of these claims, the BLM and Forest Service have embarked on a massive “restoration” effort that includes chaining, mowing, or chainsawing juniper to “restore” the “health” to the landscape.
Of course, the livestock industry’s real concern is not landscape health but the health of its bank accounts. Cows don’t consume junper. Their goal is more grass.
Not withstanding that juniper are native to the western landscape, and an important component of wildlife habitat, these chainsaw massacres go no across millions of acres of land.
In addition to their wildlife value, juniper are an important scenic component of western landscapes. Photo George Wuerthner
However, I have visited numerous sites, typically national parks or state parks where livestock grazing is prohibited, and surprisingly the density of grass is exceptional. There does not appear to be a notable loss in grass.
Here are some photos taken at Cove Palisades SP, Oregon where livestock are banned from the landscape and from the Tumalo Canal Historic area which also has no livestock grazing.
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