Kanab rancher and BLM specialist stresses stewardship, biodiversity for resilient rangelands

John Reese, a multi‑generation rancher and range land management specialist with the Bureau of Land Management, described the arid landscape around Kanab, Utah, and urged attention to stewardship and biological diversity as tools for resilient rangelands.

Reese said diverse plant species cushion the effects of drought and help maintain healthy soil, and he linked that ecological diversity to the social diversity and cooperation of local communities.

"I love getting up with the sun. I love being out on a horse, seeing the country," Reese said. He told listeners he works "with local ranchers" and described caring for the land as a reciprocal relationship: "As you give to the land, the land gives back to us."

Reese said drought can have a significant impact but that a varied mix of vegetation reduces harm to the plant community: "If you have a diverse species of vegetation, it doesn't affect the plant community and the plant life." He also emphasized social ties, saying the people who live and work on the land respect and look after one another.

He invited visitors to Kanab to observe local stewardship: "As you come to Kanab and you see the landscape that we have and visit with the locals, it helps you understand that you are a part of the land." Reese added, "We hope you'll see the love that the locals have for it and that you might develop some of that same love for caring for the land, understanding the land, and respecting the land that we have."

The remarks in the transcript were descriptive and advisory; there were no motions, votes, or formal actions recorded in the provided text.