What’s the most significant thing we could do to protect endangered species, allow ecosystems to regenerate, and remove countless tons of carbon from the atmosphere? It might just be ending grazing on public lands. For decades, livestock interests have been allowed to profit off public lands, where they’re allowed to graze cattle and sheep for rock-bottom prices and without producing any discernable public benefit. And, that’s the issue that I explore in my latest piece for Columbia Insight.

Some key takeaways from this story:

• Livestock grazing is the single biggest threat to endangered species on public lands throughout the West.
• Ending grazing on public lands and restoring just two species–gray wolves and beavers–would have immense positive ecosystem ripple effects.
• A tiny fraction of the beef produced in the US, less than 2%, comes from public lands. We could end grazing on these lands and see no noticeable impact on the price of meat.
• Allowing sagebrush steppe to regenerate in arid lands like those in Eastern Washington and Oregon would remove vast amounts of carbon from the atmosphere.

I really enjoyed working on this piece, as I think it gets at some important issues that don’t get enough attention. Read more here.