1. An Introduction to California Rangelands
Homes on the Range
An Introduction to California Rangelands
Photo Credit: Bureau of Land Management

2. What is rangeland? Rangelands are vast natural landscapes.
Rangelands grow native plants.
Rangelands are home to many different organisms.
What is rangeland?

3. Raise your hand when you see a picture of rangeland.
What is rangeland?

4. Is this rangeland?
YES
Photo credit: Bureau of Land Management

5. Is this rangeland? NO
Cropland
Photo credit: USDA

6. Is this rangeland? NO
Solid rock
Photo credit: National Park Service

7. YES Is this rangeland? Shrubland
Photo credit: Bureau of Land Management

8. NO Is this rangeland? Closed Canopy Forest
Photo credit: Bureau of Land Management

9. Is this rangeland? NO
Glacier
Photo credit: National Park Service

10. Is this rangeland?
YES
Oak Woodland
Photo credit: S. Emerson

11. NO Is this rangeland? Sand dunes
Photo credit: Bureau of Land Management

12. Is this rangeland?
YES
Desert
Photo credit: Bureau of Land Management

13. Is this rangeland?
YES
Tundra
Photo credit: Bureau of Land Management

14. Who uses rangeland? Ranchers Hikers
Photo credit: Bureau of Land Management

15. Who uses rangeland? Hunters Scientists
Photo credit: Bureau of Land Management

16. Who uses rangeland?
Wildlife
Photo credit: Bureau of Land Management

17. Who uses rangeland? Livestock Campers
Photo credit: Bureau of Land Management

18. Can you think of other living organisms that might use rangeland?
Photo Credit: S. Emerson

19. How do grazing animals improve rangeland?
They reduce the amount of fuel (grasses and shrubs) for wildfires.
Photo credit: Bureau of Land Management

20. How do grazing animals improve rangeland?
Their hooves break up hard ground, adding beneficial air to the soil.
Photo credit: Bureau of Land Management

21. How do grazing animals improve rangeland?
Control growth of non-native grasses and plants so other desirable plants can thrive
Photo credit: S. Emerson

22. How do grazing animals improve rangeland?
Increase habitat diversity for wildlife, including endangered species.
Photo credit: Bureau of Land Management

23. What role does a range manager have in the health of our land?
The range manager makes decisions on how to carefully use and manage rangeland resources (plants, animals, soil, and water) to meet the needs and desires of society.

24. What does a range manager do?
Monitor vegetation growth
Mediate agreements among rangeland users
Develop conservation plans to meet land goals
Manage private livestock operations
Develop methods to protect the range from
fire, rodents, and poisonous plants.

25. What do you think? What skills would a range manager need?
Photo Credit: Bureau of Land Management