The accepted definitions in the field are: 1. Rangeland refers to expansive, mostly unimproved lands on which a significant proportion of the natural vegetation is native grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Rangeland also include areas seeded to native or adapted introduced species that are managed like native vegetation. Rangelands include grasslands, savannas, shrublands, and wet meadows. Rangeland is generally arid or semi-arid, or otherwise unsuitable for cultivation.
2. Rangeland Health assessments are qualitative assessments of the status of ecological processes on a rangeland site. Each Ecological Site Description contains a Rangeland Health reference sheet that describes a fully functioning site. Rangeland Health assessments evaluate the degree of departure from reference conditions of 17 indicators that assess three main attributes of rangeland health: • Soil and site stability • Hydrologic function • Biotic integrity The site is then assigned a composite rating of compromised (unstable), at risk, or healthy, functioning (stable). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I'd be walking along 5th Avenue, feeling utterly urbane, when suddenly I'd catch a whiff of sage and go weak in the knees." --- Ode to Sage, Guy Hand Cindy Salo 208.850.3313 [email protected] [email protected] P.O. Box 9155 Boise ID 83707-3315 Scientist, Sound Science LLC - http://www.sound-science.org President & Chief Scientist, Sage Ecosystem Science - http://www.sageecosci.com My Blog: Sagebrush and Spuds - http://sagebrushandspuds.blogspot.com Society for Range Management, Idaho Section - http://www.stoller-eser.com/idaho_srm.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --- On Thu, 3/11/10, David C Baker <[email protected]> wrote: From: David C Baker <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] ECOSYSTEMS Rangeland definition Re: [ECOLOG-L] Workshop: Interpreting and Measuring Indicators of Rangeland Health To: [email protected] Date: Thursday, March 11, 2010, 1:11 PM I would echo what Warren says. I came from the Central Oregon Ecology Program (FS/BLM) and now deal with cattle in Southwest Oregon, where much grazing is in forest, some pretty closed. Some more cynical (and tongue in cheek) observers might think rangeland health an oxymoron akin to military intelligence. ;-} David Baker, Botanist Tiller Ranger District Umpqua National Forest Tiller, OR 97484 541-825-3149 "Warren W. Aney" <[email protected]> Sent by: "Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news" <[email protected]> 03/11/2010 11:33 AM Please respond to "Warren W. Aney" <[email protected]> To [email protected] cc Subject Re: [ECOLOG-L] ECOSYSTEMS Rangeland definition Re: [ECOLOG-L] Workshop: Interpreting and Measuring Indicators of Rangeland Health >From my perspective as a wildlife ecologist, "rangeland" is basically an agro-economic term used to encompass a wide range of ecosystems that are used for domestic livestock grazing. The image that most commonly comes to mind is the open shrub-grasslands of the Great Basin or the prairies of the Midwest and this is what I assume this workshop encompasses. But the term can also include open forest and alpine grazing lands and even managed pastureland. Rangeland health would mean the system is being managed in a sustainable manner with regard to maintaining a productive range of natural values including all native species, watershed stability, water quality (including water temperatures), control of invasives, and soil stability. I'm sure others will come up with more sophisticated academic definitions. Warren W. Aney Tigard, Oregon -----Original Message----- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Wayne Tyson Sent: Thursday, 11 March, 2010 09:49 To: [email protected] Subject: [ECOLOG-L] ECOSYSTEMS Rangeland definition Re: [ECOLOG-L] Workshop: Interpreting and Measuring Indicators of Rangeland Health Dear Ecolog: I'd like to learn of your definitions of rangeland and rangeland health. Thanks for any responses. WT ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Inouye" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 1:40 PM Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Workshop: Interpreting and Measuring Indicators of Rangeland Health > Interpreting and Measuring Indicators of Rangeland Health Workshop > > May 4-7 2010: Phoenix AZ > June 22-25 2010: Casper WY > > What > Participants in this 3.5 day course will learn how to apply the > "Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health" qualitative evaluation > protocol and learn how to quantify selected indicators. > > Why > The protocol is widely applied by individuals and agencies to provide > early > warning of potential degradation, opportunities for recovery and to help > design monitoring programs. The quantitative indicators can also be used > as > baseline for monitoring. > > Cost > No cost. Download more information > from http://usda-ars.nmsu.edu/monit_assess/courses_main.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.436 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2735 - Release Date: 03/10/10 19:33:00
