VALUES OF RANGELANDS
Objectives
• Define multiple use
• Identify and discuss the benefits
and uses of rangeland
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.
Why are rangelands important?
Many goods and services
List 5 goods or services rangeland provides?
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Why are rangelands important?
Livestock Production
Forage
Recreation
Wildlife Habitat
Native Plants
Water
Open Space
Energy
Minerals
Livestock Production
• Rangeland & pastureland in the 19
western states are home to 58% of all
beef cattle in the US.
• Western rangelands also harbor 79% of
sheep and 88% of goats in the US.
• 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.
Livestock Production
• Livestock grazing occurs on 65% of
Idaho’s total land area and in every
county throughout the state.
• Range livestock production is
Idaho’s 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
• 38% of the fishes
. . . are represented in rangeland ecosystems
Range Wildlife Include:
• Ruminants such as deer, elk, and moose that have
specialized digestive systems to digest the cellulose
in the cell walls of rangeland plants.
• Rodents and Rabbits also have digestive systems
that allow them to get energy out of digesting
cellulose.
• Concentrate-selectors are animals such as birds &
bears that find an adequate diet on rangeland by
carefully selecting berries, seeds, or roots low in
cellulose
Water
• The Western United States has a much drier climate than
the Eastern U.S. ... water is doubly precious to the 30% of
the U.S. population that lives in the West.
• Most of the water in the streams and rivers 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.
Recreation
Rangelands are increasingly important for recreational
uses such as:
• Hiking
• Hunting
• Camping
• Mountain biking
• Cross-country skiing
• Snowmobiling
Many national parks are
located on rangelands
Renewable Energy
• Sources are becoming increasingly important to
society
• Wind
• Solar
• Geothermal
• Biomass and bioenergy
USDI-BLM Photo
USDI-BLM Photo
Minerals and Mining
• Some of our most basic natural resources are mined from
rangelands
• Sand, gravel, dirt, and rock are basic materials for construction
and building
• Coal and oil shale mining
provides resources to heat
and power our society
USDI-BLM Photo
Minerals
• Wide array of mineral resources
• Gold in north, central and southern Idaho
• Silver, lead and zinc in the north
• Molybdenum and cobalt in central Idaho
• Phosphate in southeast Idaho
BLM/Idaho
Native Plant Products
• Eating Wild!
• Natural medicines
• Echinacea
• St. Johnswort
• A variety of wild foods
• Camas
• Huckleberries
• Pinenuts
William & Wilma Follette @
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
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.
K. Launchbaugh
Western Heritage
• Ranching is important to maintain the “Western Image”
• Legacy and heritage for Native America Tribes
• “Brand” of the west
• Expansion
• Settlement
• Tough western spirit
S. McFarland
Who owns rangeland?
Who owns rangeland?
• “Public land” is owned and managed by federal and
state governments for the good of the public.
• Most significant land management agencies are the
Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service,
and the Idaho Department of Lands.
Who owns rangeland?
• Grazing on private lands is wholly integrated with public
grazing lands.
• Livestock grazing occurs on:
• 95% of BLM land
• 58% of U.S. Forest Service lands
• 88% of all beef cows in Idaho graze at least part of each year on
BLM or USFS lands.
Why are rangelands important?
Livestock Production
Forage
Recreation
Wildlife Habitat
Native Plants
Water
Open Space
Minerals
Energy