Is Cedar Invasion Simply an Issue for Ranchers?

The dust bowl is a well-known state transition where ecosystems transitioned from a productive state to an unproductive state. Like the dustbowl, Eastern redcedar invasion is causing a state transition in the Great Plains, but with very different impacts. The impacts of cedar invasion extend well beyond the expected consequences to ranching communities, including collapses in native biodiversity; increased risk to endangered species; decreased ability to control wildfires; loss of water resources; increased allergens; and loss of public school funding. Like the dust bowl, cedar invasion is tied to the culture of land management and can be solved by changing some key management practices.