Green spaces, grasslands, are casualties of the ranching industry’s woes Warm days have made the task of gathering the cattle off summer ranges much more pleasant for the cattle ranchers of the Cariboo. The age-old rhythms of cattle ranching stay true to tradition in spite of the industry being in the most critical state it has ever been in, in its very long timeline of existence. The industry is in distress; if it were compared to a hospital patient, you would say that it is on life support and many are thinking that it’s time to pull the plug (if they haven’t already). There are other industries and businesses in trouble as well. Ranchers are not alone. Loggers, mill workers and industries that rely on the activity in the woods are also suffering terribly. But, and this is a big but, the loss of prosperity in that industry does not equal the loss of green space or grasslands. That is what the loss of ranch, after ranch, after ranch, after ranch is going to do to to the landscape of the Cariboo because, let’s face it — when the rancher pulls the plug, he sells out. That’s his only option. Who buys the ranch? Very likely, not anyone who wants to run a cattle operation....