Rocky Mountain Research Station

Title: Economic, social, and cultural aspects of livestock ranching on the Española and Canjilon Ranger Districts of the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests: a pilot study

Author: Raish, Carol; McSweeney, Alice M.

Date: 2003

Source: Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-113. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 89 p.

Station ID: GTR-RMRS-113

Description: The ranches of northern New Mexico, composed of land and livestock, are integral components of family and community life. This pilot study examines current economic, social, and cultural aspects of livestock operations owned by ranchers with Federal grazing permits (permittees) on the Canjilon and Española Ranger Districts of the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests. This research develops preliminary results and tests survey methods that will be used in a planned larger study. Information gathered from the study is intended to help agency managers administer forest lands with increased effectiveness by promoting greater cultural understanding. It will also be valuable as a public information tool because many residents of the State, especially those newly migrated to both urban and rural areas, are unfamiliar with the primarily Hispanic culture and traditions of northern New Mexico. The study focuses on both the economic and noneconomic contributions of livestock ownership to local families and communities. It explores the ways in which ranching maintains traditional values and connects families to ancestral lands and heritage. Acknowledging the importance of small livestock operations to area families and communities is crucial for understanding their way of life and resolving disputes over public land and resource use.

Keywords: Northern New Mexico, permittees, ranching, livestock, ancestral lands, values, tradition, heritage

View and Print this Publication (850 K)

Publication Notes: 

• We recommend that you also print this page and attach it to the printout of the article, to retain the full citation information.
• This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and is therefore in the public domain.
• You may send email to rschneider@fs.fed.us to request a hard copy of this publication. (Please specify exactly which publication you are requesting and your mailing address.)

 Get the latest version of the Adobe Acrobat reader or Acrobat Reader for Windows with Search and Accessibility

Citation

Raish, Carol; McSweeney, Alice M.  2003.  Economic, social, and cultural aspects of livestock ranching on the Española and Canjilon Ranger Districts of the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests: a pilot study.   Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-113. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 89 p..