The mission of this proposal is to utilize the data generated by the blms planned implementation of virtual fence (VF) on the horseshoe allotment on the agua fria national monument to conduct research…

The University of Arizona was awarded a $153,719 Cooperative Agreement by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) under the Rangeland Resource Management program (CFDA 15.237) to conduct research on the use of virtual fence (VF) technology on the Agua Fria National Monument. The research aims to (1) evaluate the effects of VF on excluding livestock from threatened and endangered species habitat, and (2) determine factors influencing livestock distribution. The project will collect and analyze geospatial and VF data to assess the effectiveness of VF for livestock and rangeland management. Research findings will be submitted for peer review and publication, as well as shared through Arizona Cooperative Extension workshops and an online platform, to provide the BLM and agricultural producers with new knowledge on the complexities and challenges of VF systems. The award has a performance period of August 23, 2024 to August 23, 2027.

The mission of this proposal is to utilize the data generated by the blms planned implementation of virtual fence (VF) on the horseshoe allotment on the agua fria national monument to conduct research that provides the BLM and agricultural producers with new knowledge about how implementation of VF can facilitate the conservation and restoration of rangelands to combat climate change by collecting and analyzing data to ensure progress toward meeting land health standards. Our specific objectives are to use geospatial and VF data from the agua fria national monument to (1) evaluate the effects of VF technology on livestock exclusion from threatened and endangered species (TES) habitat and (2) determine the factors that influence livestock distribution. Geospatial and BLM VF data will be collected and analyzed to better understand whether VF is an effective tool for livestock and rangeland management. Research findings will be submitted for peer review and publication in a journal such as rangeland ecology and management. Findings will also be shared during arizona cooperative extension workshops and online (https: rangelandsgateway.ORG virtual-fence), allowing BLM employees and arizona producers to understand the complexities and challenges of VF systems before relying on this emerging technology.