Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable Development and Evolution of the Criteria and Indicators

Overview Criteria Criteria Productive Capacity Productive Capacity Soil and Water Resources Soil and Water Resources Ecosystem Health and Diversity Ecosystem Health and Diversity Social and Economic Benefits Social and Economic Benefits Legal, Institutional, Economic Frameworks Legal, Institutional, Economic Frameworks Indicators within these Criteria Indicators within these Criteria Scientific Challenges Scientific Challenges Next Technical Steps Next Technical Steps

A journey of 1000 miles begins with 1 step Criteria and indicators described here represent the current development. The indicators will continue to evolve as the SRR advances towards an accepted set for monitoring and assessing rangeland sustainability.

Sustainable Rangelands Productive Capacity Capacity Health and Diversity Social and Economic Legal, Institutional and Economic and EconomicFramework Soil and Water Indicators Criteria

Maintenance of Productive Capacity on Rangeland Ecosystems Productive capacity … provide the current generation with a wide variety of goods and services depending on the mix desired by society at any particular time Productive capacity … provide the current generation with a wide variety of goods and services depending on the mix desired by society at any particular time Maintenance … that future generations will be able to obtain their desired mix... Maintenance … that future generations will be able to obtain their desired mix... Indicators must capture: Determinants of Productive Capacity, and the Variety of Outputs that can be produced on Rangelands Indicators must capture: Determinants of Productive Capacity, and the Variety of Outputs that can be produced on Rangelands

Indicators: Determinants of Productive Capacity Aboveground Biomass Production Integrates biotic and abiotic factors influencing capacity Rangeland available for livestock grazing Indicates shifts in a major commodity product

Indicators: Productive Capacity Outputs Wildlife Density Domestic Livestock Harvest of landscape & edible/medicinal plants Number of cattle, sheep, goats, horses, bison measures a consumptive use Measures the variety of other consumptive uses Direct measure of wildlife numbers & indirect for recreation

Maintenance of Ecological Health and Diversity of Rangelands Rangeland health.. degree to which the integrity of the soil and the ecological processes of rangelands are sustained Rangeland health.. degree to which the integrity of the soil and the ecological processes of rangelands are sustained Nutrient cycling, energy flow, hydrologic processes Nutrient cycling, energy flow, hydrologic processes Biodiversity.. variety of life and its processes which encompasses the variety of living organisms, the genetic differences among them and the communities and ecosystems in which they occur Landscape, community, population, genetics

Indicators: Health and Diversity Extent of rangeland Trends in land status Annual productionEnergy capture & storage Changes in fire regimesFire freq., intensity & extent Riparian conditionVeg. & watershed health Wetland AbundanceNumber & extent

Indicators: Health and Diversity Fragmentation Plant Communities Parcel Size Different Management Captures changes in landscape patterns, connectedness, habitats Plant Communities Area Invasives, Non-natives Vegetation Classes Captures changes in plant community structure and function Population Dynamics Species & communities of concern Selected Species Captures finer scale details for individual species & communities

Conservation and Maintenance of Soil and Water Resources Soils influence hydrologic processes by providing the medium for the capture, storage, and release of water. Soils influence hydrologic processes by providing the medium for the capture, storage, and release of water. Flow of water through rangelands influences soil physical and biological properties. Flow of water through rangelands influences soil physical and biological properties. In most rangelands, water is extremely limiting. In most rangelands, water is extremely limiting.

Indicators: Soil and Water Resources Area of Rangeland with Area of Rangeland with Significant Erosion Significant Compaction Significant Compaction Changes in aggregate Changes in aggregate stability stability Bare ground Bare ground Diminished Organic Matter Diminished Organic Matter Changes in Soil Organisms Changes in Soil Organisms Pesticide Application Pesticide Application Measures loss of soil Physical properties affecting water infiltration Potential for erosion through resistances to wind and water Measures of soil productivity, and ties to water quality

Indicators: Soil and Water Resources Percent of Water Bodies with Variation in Natural Range of Biological Diversity Variation in pH, Chemicals, Temperature, Sedimentation Changes in Groundwater Changes in stream: Flow amounts & timing Dry periods Geometry Indicates changes in water quality and aquatic habitat conditions Indicates potential for changes in vegetation and water availability Assesses watershed functioning, and impacts to aquatic and terrestrial diversity

Maintenance and Enhancement of Multiple Economic and Social Benefits to Current and Future Generations Socio-economic indicators provide a measure of societal values reflecting allocation of scarce economic resources. Socio-economic indicators provide a measure of societal values reflecting allocation of scarce economic resources. Economic indicators complement social measures by assessing changes resulting from adjustments in social, ecological, legal, and political systems. Economic indicators complement social measures by assessing changes resulting from adjustments in social, ecological, legal, and political systems.

Indicators: Social and Economic Benefits Social measures are widely available: Population, Migration, Mortality, Education, Income, etc. However, few are rangeland-specific. For example, social acceptability of rangeland policies, practices, conditions Assumption: Human communities are better off if rangelands are both healthy and productive.

Indicators: Social and Economic Benefits Area managed for Area managed for Cultural, Spiritual Values Cultural, Spiritual Values Subsistence Subsistence Non-consumptive-use Non-consumptive-use Land Ownership Land Ownership New Technologies New Technologies Viability and adaptability of social systems Viability and adaptability of social systems Assess management support for these values and uses Measures effect of change Assess adoption for improvement and protection Assesses how use and conditions impact range- dependent communities

Indicators: Social and Economic Benefits Amount and Economic Value Amount and Economic Value AUMs AUMs Forage Forage Non-livestock products Non-livestock products Management for Recreation Management for Recreation Area, Facilities, Visitors Area, Facilities, Visitors Investment in Rangelands Investment in Rangelands Assess availability and value of diverse uses Assess desire for tourism, recreation, wilderness Demand for different uses Rangeland Research, Development and Education Investment in the future

Indicators: Social and Economic Benefits Ranching Sector Ranching Sector Use of new technology Use of new technology Rate of return Rate of return Employment in sector Employment in sector Land Use and Conservation Land Use and Conservation Conservation easements Conservation easements Ownership by NGOs Ownership by NGOs Contribution to restoration Contribution to restoration Trade Flows between Rural and Urban Areas Ability to remain in business, importance in total employment Willingness to contribute to conservation by people and by organizations Identifies where investment income is occurring

Sustainable rangelands are influenced by Sustainable rangelands are influenced by U.S. laws, regulations, guidelines, U.S. laws, regulations, guidelines, Issues of equity, cultural traditions, legal rights and obligations, and Issues of equity, cultural traditions, legal rights and obligations, and Availability of scientific understanding and appropriate management technologies and skills. Availability of scientific understanding and appropriate management technologies and skills. Legal, Institutional, and Economic Framework for Rangeland Conservation and Sustainable Management

Legal, Institutional and Economic Frameworks Criteria Support for sustainability through frameworks of: Legal Institutional Economic Capacity to monitor change in sustainable management Capacity in R&D aimed at improving management and delivery of goods and services Property rights, range- related planning, public involvement in policy, investment, taxation Inventories, policy review, enforcement of laws and regulations Existence of research and development programs

Challenges Capacity? To what extent can productive capacity be measured? Capacity? To what extent can productive capacity be measured? Transition between rangeland and forests? What triggers identification of land as rangeland vs. forests? Transition between rangeland and forests? What triggers identification of land as rangeland vs. forests? Scale? National inventory Scale? National inventory Integration? Links between economic, social, and ecological sustainability? Integration? Links between economic, social, and ecological sustainability?

Next Technical Steps Reduce duplication of indicators Reduce duplication of indicators Develop protocols for evaluating indicators Develop protocols for evaluating indicators Protocols for identifying & evaluating data sets Protocols for identifying & evaluating data sets Inventory structure at national level Inventory structure at national level Agency roles Agency roles First Approximation Report First Approximation Report

A journey of 1000 miles begins with 1 step Future Plans