Rangeland Principles (REM 151) What are Rangelands? K. Launchbaugh K. Launchbaugh K. Launchbaugh K. Launchbaugh Rangeland Principles (REM 151) Pictures provided by K. Launchbaugh

What are Rangelands? Which of these are Rangeland? Deserts? Tundra? Wetlands? Savannas? Shrublands? Forests? Grasslands? Pastures? K. Launchbaugh J. Peterson K. Launchbaugh Overview of topics in presentation J. Peterson K. Launchbaugh

What are Rangelands? Which of these are rangeland? Deserts? Tundra? Wetlands? Savannas? Shrublands? Forests? Grasslands? Forage pasture? All deserts except barren deserts All tundra Vegetation around streams, ponds, springs, lakes, etc. All savannas All shrublands Only open forests – where grass and forbs can grow All grasslands Not highly managed pastures K. Launchbaugh K. Launchbaugh Ask group which are rangelands and which are not. Rangelands are all of the above except “forage pasture.” Though they look like Rangelands., they are managed by economic than ecological principles. J. Peterson

Pasture vs Range Pastureland differs from rangeland: Presentation (ppt.) Pasture vs Range Lynn Betts USDA-NRCS Pastureland differs from rangeland: Periodic cultivation is used to maintain. Generally introduced (or non-native) forage species. Usually irrigation or fertilization. Managed by agronomic rather than ecological principles. BLM Notes on pasturelands from Chuck Butterfield a range professor who worked at Chadron State University. The key is that Rangelands growing reproduce under natural conditions with few inputs from humans. There are

What are Rangelands? Wild Open Spaces Grasslands, shrublands, woodlands, deserts, savannas, tundra, steppe, and prairies. Naturally growing plants – not irrigated or fertilized. Very diverse – dry or moist, hot or cold, nearly barren to densely vegetated. Soils most and least fertile soils on earth. No large trees…. vast open spaces…. See for miles and miles. When you think Rangelands, think open spaces and vast landscapes. Rangelands encompass a wide variety of vegetation types, plant types, and soils. But they all have in common large vast landscapes where you can see for miles and miles J. Peterson

What are Rangelands? All areas that are not: Barren Desert Farmland Linee - Flick All areas that are not: Barren Desert Farmland Closed-Canopy Forest Covered by solid rock, concrete or glaciers C. Thompson It is often easiest to describe what rangelands are not than to describe what they are. J. Fowlers - Flickr M. Button Jeff Vanuga USDA-NRCS

What are Rangelands? Rangelands are shrublands, grasslands, deserts, woodlands, and open forest. Several factors can preclude farming or timber production on these: Limited precipitation Sandy, saline, or wet soils Steep topography Rocks K. Launchbaugh J. Corbett If there weren’t restrictions for farming, rangelands would generally have become farmland. Some grasslands such as the tall grass prairie and the Palouse prairie exist today only as small remnants today because these rangelands types were converted to high quality croplands. K. Launchbaugh

Rangelands and Grazing Are all rangelands grazed? Grazing is an important ecological process in all rangeland. But not all rangelands are grazed by livestock. All rangeland are grazed by some sort of animal… wildlife and insects. Rangelands are a kind of land – not a specific land use. All rangelands are grazed in some form or another – herbivory is a key factor in defining rangelands. However, not all rangelands are grazed by livestock. Ask audience if they can think of other important herbivores (e.g. insects and wildlife). Insects generally eat more vegetation on rangelands than livestock. K. Launchbaugh

Why are rangelands important? Presentation (ppt.) Why are rangelands important? They cover a lot of ground! 47% of the EARTH is rangeland (some estimates as high as 70%) 36% of the US is rangeland 53% of Western States is rangeland Not much land east of the Mississippi is classified as rangeland because it is mostly forested land, cropland, or pastureland. 48% of Idaho is rangeland 80 % of Nevada There are

Why are rangelands important? Presentation (ppt.) Why are rangelands important? More rangeland than anything else 47% = Rangeland 25% = Dense Forest 10% = Cropland 3% = Urban 15% = Ice, rock, and barren desert Michael Haddock Although rangelands comprise a large portion of the earth’s land surface, most of the biomass is in dense forests. Urban expansion is mostly taking place on cropland. There are

Rangelands are Diverse and Extensive! Across the globe Tundra of the Arctic Sagebrush Steppe Matt Lavin Mongolian Plains Mike Hale Billy Lindblom-Flickr African Savannah J. Peterson Rangelands occur as beautiful ecosystems across the globe. These iconic ecosystems include the savannas of Africa on the Mongolian plains of Asia the outback of Australia in the trouble and's of Brazil Sonoran Desert Matt Lavin K. Launchbaugh Leo Li - Flickr K. Launchbaugh Cerrados of Brazil Matt Lavin Outback of Australia

Rangelands are Diverse and Extensive! Across the globe Mountain Grasslands Across the globe Arctic Tundra USFWS/gpv Seth McFarland Oak Woodlands Plains Grasslands North America also has beautiful ecosystems that are recognize as Rangelands. These include the prairies of the middle of the continent and the deserts and shrublands west of the Rocky Mountains. Lynn Betts USDA-NRCS B.Spengler Mixed Prairie Sonoran Desert K. Launchbaugh USFWS

Rangelands are Important Wildlife Habitat NPS.gov Forage Livestock Production Water BLM.gov NRCS.USDA.gov Renewable Energy BLM.gov USDA.gov Recreation Rangelands are important for many resources and values that exist on them. Native Plants BLM.gov Open Space Jen Peterson Michale Haddock

Rangelands are Challenged Many forces that threaten rangeland integrity! As the group to discuss what they think are the greatest threats to modern Rangelands in North America? J. Peterson

Rangelands are Challenged Many forces that threaten rangeland integrity! Unsustainable grazing practices Damaging fire regimes Invasive plant species Global climate change Human development The challenges most recognized include inappropriate grazing, frequent fires, invasive plants, changing and variable climate patterns, and human development and urbanization. J. Peterson