Overview

Rangelands are generally dry, rocky, steep, and remote. Making up more than half of the Earth's land surface and almost half of the United States' land surface, rangelands have soils that are too shallow, too infertile, or too unproductive to support cultivated agriculture or intensive forest management. Nevertheless, these lands are economically, socially, and ecologically important to the well-being of societies globally because they provide watersheds, wildlife habitat, remote recreational sites, aesthetics and open spaces, extensive timber production, and plant and grass forage for wild and domestic animals. CSREES seeks to ensure the sustainability of this vital resource.

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In Focus

• CSREES is soliciting research and extension projects to improve grazingland watershed health and help evaluate impacts of conservation projects and programs.
• CSREES has requested research proposals to help agricultural producers, rural landowners, and land managers make informed rangeland management decisions.
• CSREES awards $4.6 million to 13 universities and research labs to develop strategies for management, control, and elimination of weedy and invasive species.
• CSREES supports national learning center for private forest and range landowners and natural resources professionals.
• The CSREES-supported Renewable Resources Extension Act program reports national impacts and implementation status.
• The CSREES-supported Renewable Resources Extension Act Strategic State-Federal Partnership Plan is released and being implemented.


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Partnerships

• CSREES fiscally supports the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, which focuses on heightened ecological and economic awareness of grazing lands.
• The ECOP Forestry and Natural Resources Task Force supports the Renewable Resources Extension Act (RREA), a formula-funded program administered by CSREES.
• CSREES participates in the Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable (SSR), a national effort to coordinate and enhance rangeland management.


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Events

• Leopold's Legacy: Extension's Response to a Changing World, 6th Natural Resource Extension Professionals Conference, Madison, WI, May 19-23, 2008.
• Developing an Infrastructure Fund for the Planet, 2008 Global Katoomba Meeting XII, Washington, DC, June 9-10, 2008.
• Climate Information for Managing Risks, Partnerships and Solutions for Agriculture and Natural Resources, St. Pete Beach, FL, June 10-13, 2008.


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Selected Results and Impacts

• CSREES funding helps the Oregon State University Department of Rangeland Resources provide leadership in watershed research, extension, and education.
• CSREES funds help rangeland scientists study managed grazing system issues in the Intermountain West.
• CSREES funding helped the Oregon State University Department of Rangeland Resources develop its WeedMapper program on weed encroachment.

Resources

• Healthy Forests and Rangelands. Federal government portal to information on land management, National Fire Plan, Healthy Forests Initiative.
• Rangeland Ecology & Management, Society for Range Management. Formerly the Journal of Rangement Management, the publication offers rangeland research and more.
• General Technical Reports, Rocky Mountain Research Station, U.S. Forest Service. Reports and annotated bibliographies and more relating to forestlands.


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Contacts

James P Dobrowolski