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Table of contents

Introduction Areas of study Explanation Examples

Visual aid

Reference

Rangelands
Rangelands are in the form of grasslands, shrublands,woodlan

2 ds, wetlands, and deserts. Types of rangelands include tallgrass andshortgrass prairies, desert grasslands and shrublands, woodlands, savannas,chaparrals, steppes, and tundras. Rangelands do not include barren desert, farmland, closed canopy forests, or land covered by solid rock, concrete and/or glaciers. Rangelands are distinguished from pasture lands because they grow primarily native vegetation, rather than plants established by humans. Rangelands are also managed principally with extensive practices such as managed livestock grazing and prescribed fire rather than more intensive agricultural practices of seeding, irrigation, and the use of fertilizers. Grazing is an important use of rangelands but the term "rangeland" is not synonymous with "grazinglands". There are areas of rangeland that are not grazed and there are grazed areas that are not rangelands. Livestock grazing can be used to manage rangelands by harvesting forage to produce livestock, changing plant composition or reducing fuel loads. Fire is also an important regulator of range vegetation, whether set by humans or resulting from lightning. Fires tend to reduce the abundance of woody plants and promote herbaceous plants including grasses, forbs, and grass-like plants. The suppression or reduction of periodic wildfires from desert shrublands, savannas, or woodlands frequently invites the dominance of trees and shrubs to the near exclusion of grasses and forbs.

Significance for
Livestock production Wildlife habitat
Watershed area protection

Native plant products Recreation Open space Western Heritage

Livestock Production
Livestock production on rangeland is very important to supply meat for American and World populations and also for leather, wool, mohair, and other products that livestock yield. Range livestock production is Idahos major agricultural activity in terms of land used and cash receipts

Wildlife habitat
Rangelands provide habitat for countless mammals, birds, amphibians, fishes, and insects. Of the total number of animal species found in the United States 84% of the mammals, 74% of the birds, 58% of the amphibians and 38% of the fishes are represented in rangeland

Watershed area protection

Most of the water in the streams and river of Idaho fell initially on rangeland or forests. Therefore, proper management of rangeland requires careful attention to the amount & quality of water that flows off rangeland

Native Plant Products

4 Eating Wild on Public Lands! A variety of wild foods are found in Idaho Camas Huckleberries Pinenuts

Recreation
Rangelands are increasingly important for recreational uses such as: Hiking Hunting Camping Mountain biking Cross-country skiing Snowmobiling

Open Space
People in the west value open space Livestock ranches are becoming working wilderness to maintain biodiversity and wildlife habitat quality Environmentally concerned citizens have paid ranchers to maintain open space through scenic easements

Western Heritage
Legacy of the Cowboy Long-history of ranching families in Idaho

Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livestock http://www.modulesforestandrange.org/module_Rangeland_Drought/Drought+im pacts+of+rangelands/sec.+3.+pg.+3.htm http://www.jstor.org/pss/3893680 http://www.ifad.org/rural/learningnotes/pat/5.htm http://www.odi.org.uk/work/projects/pdn/drought/umrani.html