1. What is Rangeland?

2. What is rangeland? Uncultivated land dominated by native plants: grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, or shrubs. All land that is not farmland, dense forest, barren desert or land covered by solid rock, concrete, or glaciers

3. How much rangeland is there? How much of the earth’s surface is rangeland? – 25% = Dense Forest – 10% = Cropland – 3% = Urban – 15% = Ice, rock, and barren desert – 47% = Rangeland

4. How much rangeland is there? 47% of the EARTH is rangeland 36% of the US is rangeland 53% of Western States is rangeland

5. Rangelands of the World

6. Tundr a

7. Deserts

8. Savannas

9. Woodlands

10. Shrubland

11. Prairie

12. Grassland

13. Wetlands

14. How much of these are Rangelands?  Deserts?  Tundra?  Wetlands?  Savannas?  Shrublands?  Forests?  Grasslands?  Forage pasture?  All deserts except barren deserts  All tundra  Vegetation around wetlands  All savannas  All shrublands  Only open forests  All grasslands  Not highly managed pastures

15. Multiple Use Because rangelands have many important uses, most rangelands are managed under principles of multiple-use Several uses or values of rangeland are managed simultaneously with care to avoid overuse or destruction of natural resources.

16. What is rangeland good for? Livestock production Wildlife habitat Water Minerals (oil, coal, sulfur) Native plant products Recreation Open space Western Heritage

17. 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 Texas’ major agricultural activity in terms of land used and cash receipts

18. 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 ecosystems.

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

20. Minerals Although they are overshadowed by the petroleum, natural gas, and natural gas liquids that are produced in the state, many of the nonpetroleum minerals are, nonetheless, important to the economy. UI Special Collections BLM/Idaho

21. In 2012, nonfuel minerals were valued at an estimated $3.39 billion, representing 4.43 percent of the total U.S. production and ranking Texas eighth among the states in overall U.S. production. In 2011, nonfuel minerals produced in Texas were valued at an estimated $2.81 billion.

22. The leading mineral commodities produced in the Texas are portland cement, crushed stone, and construction sand and gravel. These three, together with salt, industrial sand and gravel, lime, and masonry cement, account for more that 95 percent of the state's nonfuel mineral value.

23. Native Plant Products - Sources of renewable oil, fuel, food pharmaceuticals, and more. They are our vital link to life and they are our most important resource for our future William & Wilma Follette @ USDA- NRCS PLANTS Database

24. Recreation Rangelands are increasingly important for recreational uses such as: – Hiking – Wildlife observation – Camping – Mountain biking – Fishing – Hunting

25. 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

26. Western Heritage Legacy of the Cowboy Long-history of ranching families in Texas

27. What is rangeland management? The careful use and management of rangeland resources (plants, animals, soil, and water) to meet the needs and desires of society

28. Range Management Concepts 1.Rangeland is a renewable resource 2.Energy from the sun can be captured by plants and used by animals 3.Rangelands supply food and fiber to humans at low energy costs

29. Range Management Concepts 4.Rangeland productivity is determined by soil, topographic, and climate characteristics 5.Rangelands produce a variety of “products” 6.Rangeland must be managed to maintain soil and water quality

30. Who owns rangeland? In Texas, 97% of the rangeland is privately owned, leaving only 3% as public land. “Public Land” is owned and managed by federal and state governments

32. Tools of Rangeland Management Fences Number of livestock Species of livestock Weed control Fire

33. Range Management Example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb8WX0 P4OvA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb8WX0 P4OvA

34. Texas Rangeland Rangelands, they constitute nearly one-half of the world’s land mass, and 59% of the state of Texas.

35. Are all rangelands grazed? Grazing is an important ecological process in all rangeland, but not all rangeland are grazed by livestock

36. Everyone thinks of beef cattle when they think of rangelands, and remember the historic cattle drives across Texas. Remember - rangeland is a type of land, not a land use. Beef cattle grazing is a land use.