Rangelands are defined as lands dominated by grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, or shrubs that are suitable for grazing or browsing. They cover over half the world's land area and include ecosystems such as forests, savannas, woodlands, tundra, marshes, wetlands, prairies, plains, grasslands, shrublands, steppes, deserts, and semi-deserts. Rangelands provide many important goods and services like livestock production, wildlife habitat, water, renewable energy resources, minerals, recreation, and natural beauty. They are classified based on their potential forage production and proper management is important for their sustainable use and conservation.

1. RANGELANDS
Mohammad Anees

2.  “Lands on which the native vegetation (climax or natural
potential plant community) is predominantly grasses, grass
like plants, forbs, or shrubs suitable for grazing or browsing
use”.
EPA
Introduction

3.  Unsuitable for land uses such as
cultivating agricultural crops.
 Largely used for livestock grazing.
 Over half of the worldwide is
rangeland, more than any other
type of ecosystem.
Cont…

4. Rangeland is a collective term for native grasses and shrubs that cover an arid or semi-
arid area Include ecosystems such as :
 Forests
 Savannas
 Woodlands
 Tundra
 Marshes and Wetlands
 Prairies
 Plains
 Grasslands
 Shrub lands
 Steppes
 Deserts
 Semi-deserts
 Arid lands
 Swards
Cntnu….

5. Rangeland condition usually classified as :
 Excellent: containing > 75% of its potential forage production.
 Good:containing 51-75% of its potential forage production.
 Fair:containing 26-50% of its potential forage production.
 Poor:containing 0-25% of its potential forage production .
Conditions of the rangeland

6. The geographic extent and many important resources of rangelands make their
proper use and management vitally important to people everywhere
 Produce a wide variety of good and services desired by society including :
 Livestock production
 Wildlife habitat
 Water
 Mineral Resources
 Wood products
 Wind land recreation
 Native plant products
 Natural beauty
 Provide food
 Provide watersheds for surrounding communities
Importance of rangelands

7.  Supply meat for American and world
populations.
 Leather
 Wool
 Mohair
 And other products that Livestock yield.
 Livestock grazing is a major agricultural
activity in terms of land use and cash receipts.
Livestock production

8.  Provide habitat for countless mammals,
birds, amphibians fishes and insects.
 Of total number of animal species
found in the United States.
 84% of the mammals
 74% of the birds
 58% of the amphibians
 38% of fishes
Wildlife habitat

9.  Most of the water in the streams and rivers fell initially on
rangeland and forests.
 Proper management of rangeland requires careful attention
to the amount of quality of water that flows off rangeland.
Water

10.  Sources are becoming increasingly
important to society.
 Wind
 Solar
 Geothermal
 Biomass
and bioenergy
Renewable energy

11.  Some of our most basic natural resources are mined from
rangelands.
 Sand, gravel, dirt and rock are basic material for construction and building .
 Coal and oil shale mining provides
resources heat and power to our
society.
Minerals and mining

12. Wide array of mineral resources
 Gold
 Silver
 Lead
 Zinc
 Oil
 Coal
 Sulfur
 Molybdenum
 Cobalt
 phosphate
Minerals

13.  Rangelands are increasingly important for recreational uses such as:
 Hiking
 Hunting
 Camping
 Mountain biking
 Skiing
 Snowmobiling
Recreation

14. Sustainable rangeland management involves a number of
techniques that are often employed simultaneously
1) controlling the species and number of livestock on land .
2) control of invasion of unwanted weeds.
3) differed grazing .
4) controlling the distribution of livestock.
5) restoration and improvement of rangeland .
Conservation

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