Cows, Conflict, and Communication: A Case Study in Southern Colorado

In this paper, researchers from Colorado State University (CSU) discuss rising concern of public land managers, ranchers, and the general public about public lands grazing and the conflicts that arise between industry and recreation-seeking citizens. The authors present findings from a research project conducted under a cooperative agreement between the College of Natural Resources at CSU, the Grand Mesa/Uncompaghre National Forest, and the Rocky Mountain Forest Experiment Station. The first phase of this research was a visitor perception study conducted on the Big Cimarron Allotment in southwest Colorado to determine the nature of public perceptions, misunderstandings, and level of knowledge about public land grazing in general and on that allotment specifically.