This book provides an integrated description of the indicators of rangeland sustainability that capture ecological, economic, and social dimensions. It takes a fresh look at the information available on current and emerging issues across rangelands, and presents collaborative research for future progress. Authors offer a framework for evaluating rangeland sustainability, the best available data to use, as well as an interactive tool for use at a variety of geographical scales. Readers with limited knowledge of rangelands, as well as professional rangeland ecologists and land managers, will gain an understanding of the best tools available today to assess sustainability across rangeland ecosystems in the U.S.
Author(s): Kristie Maczko, Aaron Harp, John Tanaka, Matt Reeves
Series: Environmental and Societal Dimensions of Sustainable Development Goals
Publisher: CRC Press
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 180
City: Boca Raton
Cover
Half Title
Series Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Series Preface
Preface
Authors
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable and the National Assessment
People and Process
SRR Criteria and Indicators
Caveats
Chapters
Methods Used
Rangeland and Rangeland Counties
Indicators
Assessing Sustainability
Note
Literature Cited
Chapter 2: Ecological Indicators
Indicator Descriptions
Extent of Land Area in Rangeland
Rangeland Area by Vegetation Community
Area of Infestation and Presence/Absence of Invasive and Non-native Plant Species of Concern
Fragmentation of Rangeland and Rangeland Plant Communities
Rangeland Aboveground Phytomass
Rangeland Annual Productivity
Number of Domestic Livestock on Rangeland
Percent of Surface Water on Rangeland Areas with Significant Deterioration of Their Chemical, Physical, and Biological Properties from Acceptable Levels
Results
Extent of Land Area in Rangeland
Fragmentation of Rangeland and Rangeland Plant Communities
Rangeland Area by Vegetation Community
Area of Infestation and Presence/Absence of Invasive and Non-native Plant Species of Concern
Rangeland Aboveground Phytomass
Rangeland Annual Productivity
Number of Domestic Livestock on Rangeland
Percent of Surface Water on Rangeland Areas with Significant Deterioration of Their Chemical, Physical, and Biological Properties from Acceptable Levels
What Do the Ecological Indicators Mean by Themselves?
Note
Literature Cited
Chapter 3: Social and Economic Rangeland Sustainability Indicators:: The Challenge of Social Indicators and Sustainability
Larger Social Forces and Rangeland Counties
Indicator Data
The Value of Forage Harvested from Rangeland by Livestock
Rate of Return on Investment for Range Livestock Enterprises
Area and Number of Operations with Conservation Easements
Income Inequality
Distressed Communities Index
Federal, State, and Local Transfers to Ranches
Sources of On-Farm Income and Level of Dependence on Livestock Production for Household Income
Employment Diversity
Agriculture (Ranch/Farm) Structure
Value Produced by Agriculture and Recreation Industries as Percent of Total Economic Output
Unemployment
Land Tenure, Land Use, and Ownership Patterns by Land Size Classes
Population Pyramid and Population Change
Income by Work Location versus Residence
What Do the Social and Economic Indicators Indicate?
What Do the Social Indicators Mean by Themselves?
What Do the Economic Indicators Mean by Themselves?
Literature Cited
Chapter 4: Assessing Rangeland Sustainability
Displaying Rangeland Sustainability
Sustainability Triangle
State-Level Sustainability
Conclusion
Literature Cited
Chapter 5: What the Data Show: Integrating Ecological, Social, and Economic Rangeland Sustainability
Defining Rangeland Counties
Putting It All Together
County-Level and State-Level Indicators
MLRAs, Ecoregions, and CD
Literature Cited
Chapter 6: Case Studies
Wasatch Front
Wasatch: Ecological Indicators
Wasatch: Economic Indicators
Wasatch: Social Indicators
Wasatch Front: Overall Conclusion
Central Great Plains
Central Great Plains: Ecological Indicators
Central Great Plains: Economic Indicators
Central Great Plains: Social Indicators
Central Great Plains: Overall Conclusion
Northern Great Plains
Northern Great Plains: Ecological Indicators
Northern Great Plains: Economic Indicators
Northern Great Plains: Social Indicators
Northern Great Plains: Overall Conclusion
Conclusion
Literature Cited
Chapter 7: Key Elements Missing from Rangeland Sustainability Assessment: Future Research Needs
Ecological Data Needs
Indicators Used in This Assessment
Indicators with Partial or Fragmented Data
Indicators with No Available Data
Social Data Needs
Indicators Used in This Assessment
Indicators with Partial or Fragmented Data
Indicators with No Available Data
Economic Data Needs
Indicators Used in This Assessment
Indicators with Partial or Fragmented Data
Story Map
Literature Cited
Chapter 8: Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
Literature Cited
Appendix: List of Abbreviations
Index
